Poul Anderson

War of the Wing-Men

Chapter 1

great admiral Syranax hyr Urnan, heir Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet of the

Drakko, Fisherman of the seas of the East, Conductor to the sacrifice, and

Oráculo of the Lodestar, extended its wings and it returned them to join again

with a surprising humming. During a little while, the papers that were upon

the table raised as a result of the air. - No! - it said -. Impossible! It

must have some error. - As it pleases my admiral. - the Executive Head

Official Delp hyr Orikan, inclined with sarcasm -. the explorers, did not see

anything. The rage, was reflected in the face of T'heonax captain hyr Urnan,

son of the Great Admiral, presumed heir. Its superior lip rose until their

canine eyeteeth showed a sparkling reflection that was darkened in its snout.

- we do not have time to per to der with its insolencias, Delp Executive - it

said coldly -. It would advise to my father who got rid of an official who

does not show more respect. Under his distinguished official straps, the great

physical contexture of Delp straightened up. T'heonax captain took a step

towards him. The tails were opened and the wings extended preparing itself for

the fight, until the room filled with its bodies and their hatred. With a

calculation that apparently was accidental, T'heonax took its hand towards the

lateral part of its waist. The yellow eyes of the Delp flashed and their

fingers irritated on his tomahawk. The tail of admiral Syranax was fought

against the ground. It was like the outbreak of a pump. Both young noble

considered the place where they were, and very slowly, muscle after muscle

left these rested under the acariciadoras skins and they relaxed. - it is

already enough! - espetó Syranax -. Delp, your language will carry many

misfortunes to you. T'heonax, already I am getting tired of your

impertinencias. You will already have time to resolve personal your

enemistades when I am grass of the fish. In the meantime, it leaves calm my

few officials of solution. It was a this one explanation done with more

firmness than anyone of which nobody had listened to him long time ago. Their

son and his subordinate realized of which this creature of gray hair, of dim

eyes and rheumatic, had been in certain occasion the conqueror of the Maion

Mavy. (a thousand of wings of enemy heads had shaken of fear from the highest

masts) and still she was his head in the war against the Flock. They assumed

their maximum aspect of respect and hoped to that they continued. - you do not

take my words very literally, Delp - the admiral said to average voice. One

approached towards the bookcase that was upon the table and took a pipe of

long fuze beginning to fill up it with long fibers of dry seaweed of the sea

that took in a tabaquera in its waist. In the meantime its rigid already old

body was lodged looking for the greater comfortableness in a armchair of wool,

and leather. "I was surprised rather naturally - it continued - but am sure

that our explorers still know how to use as a telescope. Descríbeme again and

with all exactitude which happened. - a patrol approximately made its habitual

recognition to thirty miles to the nornoroeste of here - Delp with much

firmness in its words said -. This was was the general area of the called

island... I cannot pronounce this lacking name of the hand of the Gods, Sir;

it means the Flight of the Flags. - Yes, yes - Syranax- agreed you must know

that I have thrown a look to the map sometimes. T'heonax made a face. Delp did

not belong to the cut. This era its disadvantage. His grandfathers had been a

simple constructor of boats, his father never was beyond the captainship of a

simple square. She was later when the family ennobleció by the heroic services

of the Xarit'ha battle, naturally. But they had remained in a rank of little

level. A handful of people who as soon as it could exceed to those of his

lineage. Syranax like answer to these ill-fated days of hunger and misery, had

chosen officials being based only on the demonstrated ability. This way little

the important Delp hyr Orikan had been ascended, in few years to the second

higher position in Drak'ho. Its rise, nevertheless, had not exiled the rudeza

of its education, or, taught like behaving with real noble. If Delp were

popular with the most common sailors he was at the same time the one that take

refook with more misfortune on the part of many aristocrats. For them it

continued being, a parvenú, a coarse one, with the nerve that was reconciled

to a Sa Axollon. Once the protective wings of the admiral were folded with the

death... T'heonax savored ahead of time what it would happen to Delp Orikan.

Serious very easy to find some accusation to its name. The Executive

continued: - I feel It, Sir - it murmured - I did not mean... we are still so

profane in which it concerns this ample sea. The explorers saw this floating

object. He was something since never they had heard previously. Two of them

returned flying to give account to us of it and to request advice to us. I

went to see what it happened by same me. Sir, is truth! - a floating object

six times longer than longest of our canoes, like ice, and still, not even

like ice. - the Admiral shook his gray head. Very slowly he put the spark plug

in the lighter. But he was with unnecessary violence that lead pavilo to the

small wood cylinder of the pipe. Moving it from a part to another one, he

approximated the fire to the cazoleta of pipe and aspired deeply. - the

polished rock crystal more could have an aspect very similar to this device -

Delp was explained -. But not so shining. But not with so many sparkles. - and

there are animals that move in their interior? - Three, gentleman.

Approximately of our stature, or a little greater perhaps, but without wings

and tail. They are not indeed animals... I create. Apparently they wear suits

and I do not believe that the shining device has been conceived as a boat. One

moves between the waves abominably and it gives the impression of not being

able to change its location. - If it is not a boat nor another device come off

some port, then by all the Gods, from where it comes? of the depths? - I do

not create it, captain - Delp with irritation said -. If he were thus, the

beings whom there are in him would be fish or mammalian or... good, able for

swimming he gives all ways. But they are not it, have the aspect of a

terrestrial typical configuration nonapt for the flight, but for only having

four members. - Then, I must be conceited that they fell of the sky - said

with T'heonax ridicule. - it would not surprise to me absolutely - Delp in low

voice answered -. there is no another direction of where they have been able

to come. - T'heonax seated on its heels, with the completely opened mouth. But

his father only moved the head agreeing. - Very well - Syranax- murmured

enchants to me to see that there is a little imagination in all this. - But

from where they came, flying? - espetó T'heonax. - Perhaps our enemies of

Lannach have something to see with this - the Admiral said -. They much more

cover a great part with the world every year, that what we found place setting

in many generations; they have contact with a hundred of Barbarian tribes down

in the tropical and interchange the news there. - and women - T'heonax said.

It spoke in that mixture of desaprobante voice, that was characteristic of the

whole fleet when it watched the clothes of the emigrants. - That does not

matter - Delp responded. T'heonax responded with vividness: - You, puppy that

you put yourself from the low class, you dare... - the tip Closes! - Syranax

shouted. After a pause it continued: - I have made investigations between our

prisoners. In the meantime, it will be better than we send a fast canoe before

this object finds others. - They can be dangerous - T'heonax warned. - Exactly

- his father said -. If he is thus they will be better in our hands than if

for example they found the Lannach'onai and they made with them an alliance.

Dalp, takes the Temnis with an abundant and good crew. And it takes with you

to that type of the Lannach who we captured, how that professional linguist...

- Tolk is called? - a habitual pronunciación hurried in answering the

Executive little showing. - Yes Perhaps he can speak to them. It sends

explorers, once you are there so that fleet has me to current but mantente

sufficient moved away of them with main, until you are well safe that the

beings whom there are in that device, are to us inoffensive Mantente also

moved away until I have ruined any superstitious fear, about the marine

demons, but I know robust if you must be it. We always can request excuses

later... or send the bodies by the hut. Now, it flies! And Delp, voted.

Chapter 2

Desolation had to him catched. Even from this low and balanceante cruise of

the killer sky, Eric Wace could see an immensity of horizon. He thought that

immense dimension of this ring, where the pale sky was with the gray which

they formed the stormy clouds and túmulos, and the great ones you whip of the

waves, were sufficient to terrify a man. The aspect that presents/displays the

death that watchs to us had been faced previously, on the Earth, by many of

its ancestors; but the Earth horizon, was not so remote. It did not matter

that it was to a hundred of years light of his own sun. Such distances were

too great to be able to include/understand them; they became simple numbers,

and they did not scare to which counted in his salary a trip in spaceship per

week. Even the ten thousand kilometers of the opened ocean, to a world of only

a human group, people located there by special mission, did not mean more than

another number. Later, if it lived, Wace would have to dedicate a dying time,

asking itself how to be able to send a message throughout all this empty, but

at the moment too much it was occupied in staying with life. But the total

distance of the planet was something that it could see. This vision to him had

not become present before in its eighteen months of stay, but then it had as

much been isolated psychological as well as physically by a inconquistable

technical machinery. Now he was single in a vessel that sank and was twice but

far to be able to watch throughout the disagreeable waves of you limit them of

the world of which there was it been of the Earth. The cruise of the sky was

affected and balanced from a part to another one under a wild impact. Wace

lost its balance and slipped throughout curved metallic plates. With rage it

was looking for with his hands the cable of the light that whipped the boxes

of food in the navigation turret. If it went towards a side its boots and

dresses they would sink to him downwards like a stone. It was taken hold on

time and it was arranged to rest a little, the inopportune wave slapped its

face as if it was a humid and salty hand. Shaking of cold, Wace finished

fixing and to order the last box and to put it in its site and soon were

crawling towards the entrance hatchway. She was a small one and miserable

emergency door but the stroll of crystal cover on which the passengers had

taken a walk while the pilots of the cruise lead it through the sky, was full

of water and his adorned submerged bronze doors. The water had filled the

engine room now totally damaged, when they sank. Since then the ship had been

taking water around all doublings retaining walls, until all the ship was

together for pargo and last trip to the bottom of the sea. The wind happened

whistling through his debilitated fingers and to traverse of his wet hair,

trying to maintain open you hatchway while that Wace wanted to close it after

him. It had a fight against the typhoon. Typhoon? Demons, no! He had only the

speed of a wind which we had considered normal, but with superior an

atmospheric pressure six times and that whipped like a terrestrial storm, the

Condemned PLC 2987165 II! Damn the same PL, and the condemned Nicholas van

Rijn and still still more condemned Eric Wace to be as crazy as to work by the

Company! Briefly, while it fought against the hatchway, Wace watched over the

foam of the waves, as if it looked for a salvation. It did not descry more

than to a reddish sun and great storm cloud banks, dirty, in the north and a

few points, that probably belonged to the Earth in that they were. Satán hurt

with its rays those native people who did not come to help them. Those rays

would have at least to disappear while human beings suffocated, instead of

being suspended there in the sky rejoicing. Wace closed the hatchway, it

separated quickly of her and it lowered the stairs. On his feet it had to stay

with force against the shaken forts. Still it could hear the waves fighting

itself on the ship and the wind force. - He is everything in order? - Yes, my

lady - so much said as there is it been never. - What it is not much, no? -

Mrs. Sandra Tamarin exerted all her fulgor on him. After this she it did not

mean more than another shade in the dark of the dead ship -. But you seem a

drowned rat, friend mine. They see, we have dry clothes for you. Wace agreed

and it undressed of its wet jacket and it threw to the distant spot its dull

water floods. Ice cream without them had remained - they could not be to more

than five degrees Celsius but it seemed that those clothes had remained during

long time submerged in the ocean. Their teeth castañeaban while it followed it

her by the corridor. He was typical a high and young man of the north of

America, reddish hair, blue eyes and with characteristics of hardness in his

factions who pronounced themselves in all their full body of very developed

muscles. It had begun like apprentice in warehouses at the age of twelve

years, there far in the Earth and now it comprised of the Solar Company of

Especias and Licores in all the planet known with the name of Diomedes. It had

not been an elevation to his rank obtained at a surprising speed. The tactics

of go Rijn were to elevate in category in agreement with the results, that was

just like to obtain that a mentality of fast reflections, a fast revolver and

a clear vision of the things were favored by the opportunity at the ascent.

But had been the one of him, a solid one and good race with a future of

occupations on the less isolated and disagreeable positions, completed with an

executive position and as category back in the world to which it belonged

and... and why served all this if the waters more not knowing were going to

swallow to him in a few hours? At the end of the corridor where the navigation

turret rose, was again the cobrizo brightness of the sun that irritated its

nerves and that were seen in the sky below dark clouds, by the southwestern

part as the day declined. Lady Sandra left its torch and indicated towards a

place on the cover. To the other side were the outer clothes, reinforced,

smooth and protective clothes that he to need it before venturing itself again

in the outside being put under the equinoccial spring. - Ponte all this - it

said as soon as the boat begins to sink, we will have to leave the greater

speed to him. - Where it is Freeman van Rijn? - Wace asked. - Dedic I accept

to the last minutes of work on the raft. He is a very mañoso man with the

tools, right? But in a while a simple worker of the space was given. Wace

shrank of shoulders and hoped to that it went. - I have said to You that you

change - she said. - But... - Oh! - a tenuous smile never crossed its face I

thought about that there was a naked taboo on the Earth. - Good... not

exactly, I create, my lady. But after all you belong to the nobility, and I am

not more than a retailer. - Of republican planets as the Earth arrives the

worse ones from snobs - it said here all we are human beings. And now,

cámbiate quickly. I will become from backs if you wish it. Wace was contained

as rapidly as possible in its clothes. The glad unconcern that it showed, was

an unexpected balsam for me. It thought about the luck that always accompanied

to that goat gordinflona and old that was their fellow traveller goes Rijn. It

did not have straight! The collectors of Kermes speak to a large extent be a

great grouping and their descendants had made the truth like something

inherent in them, specially the aristocrats, after Kermes was proclaimed like

great ducado an independent one during the Rupture. Lady Sandra Tamarin was

almost as high as he and their devoid dresses of winter of form did not get to

completely hide the full silhouette of feminidad. It had a face too much it

last to be beautiful: extended front, great mouth, small nose, pómulos salient

but with great and torn green eyes under very black eyebrows, that were

prettiest than Wace had never seen. Its hair was long, straight, blond ash and

that was gathered in a species of moño at that moment but that Wace had seen

floating freely under a crown the light of a candle. - you are Already ready,

Freeman Wace? - Oh... I feel it, lady. I was thinking. Only a little while and

I am prepared! - the túnica put on him that had to cover all the body to him,

but it left it without getting to close the rack. Still it was left a certain

human aspect in its clothes -. Yes, already I am. I request pardon to him. -

she does not have importance - it became. In the small space in which they

could move, their bodies were close. She watched at the outside towards the

sky -. Those native ones, not yet are here? - That I create lady. Too high for

me to be able to be safe but they they can rise to several kilometers of

eniente height without inconv. - Me I have asked it same me but I have not had

the opportunity to find out. I thought that it could not have flying animals

of the stature of a man, and these Diomedanos has six meters in width with the

extended wings. How? Now ask you this? She sonr ió. - we are only waiting for

Freeman van Rijn. What another thing we can do that to speak of curiosities?

-... we will help... to finish that raft soon Him, but we will sink. - it said

to Me that we had only sufficient batteries for a short trip, so that soon he

will be ready. Please, it continues speaking. The aristocrats of Kermes, have

their customs and taboos, to even die correctly. What another thing is a man,

but an accumulation costumary and taboos? Its dry voice had certain vivacity,

she smiled a little, but he wondered himself to what extent the position that

she adopted was real. To the demon with that farce! he had meant he. We are

sunk in the ocean of a planet, whose life is to us poisonous. There is an

island to a few hundreds of kilometers of here, but we only know its direction

vaguely. Perhaps we pruned perhaps or perhaps no, to finish the raft on time,

to save the fuel tanks and we pruned although he is not safe, to load in her

our rations on time human type; and all this will depend on the storm that is

forming in the north. These were native that watched over our heads does a few

hours, but since then have let be... before us, or... to watch us, any thing

less to offer aid to us. Somebody hates you to him or to the old one they go

Rijn, meant. To me, I am not the sufficiently important thing so that they

hate to me. But van Rijn is the solar company of Especias and Licores, which

means a great power in Liga Polesotécnica, the one that is greatest to be able

in the well-known galaxy. And you are Lady Sandra inheriting Tamarin of the

throne of a whole planet - if you live that you have despised many supplies of

marriage of its declining one and worn down aristocracy, preferring publicly

to look for by other parts a father for your children, so that the next Great

Duke of Kermes can be a man and not a reason for ridicules. And many

cortesanos must fear their access. Oh, if, had meant he, was very many people

who would leave winning, if as much Nicholas van Rijn or Sandra Tamarin, did

not manage to return Era one galantería calculated on the other hand to him to

have offered a trip in their particular ship from Antares where was she in the

Earth doing high in the way which always they were interesting. At least it

could look for commercial concessions in the Ducado. When more, no, as soon as

it could obtain a true alliance; there was too much demon put in him. He (more

intelligent and innocent fort) never would even allow that he rested his heavy

innkeepers on the armchairs of your parents. But I go nomadic, my beloved, had

to quer gone to say he; and the cause is that somebody in the crew of the

boat, had been bribed. The scheme of the bribe well was perpetrated; that

somebody looked for its opportunity. It arrived when you took earth on

Diomedes, to see how it is true and unexpected a new planet, a planet where

until the main continental configurations they had been you lower certain in

the maps, during little the five years that a handful of men had here been.

The opportunity arrived when said myself I of conduciros to you and my old one

endiablado head to those mountains to half of way around this world, that has

been designated like a spectacular scene. A pump in the main generator, a

cruel crew, engineer and disappeared butlers of crew in the blowing of the

death, the head of my copilot destroyed when sinking to us in the sea, the

destroyed radio, and the latest that is of despoliation is going to sink long

before which in Thursday Landing they begin to worry itself by us and come to

look for to us. And in case we survive, it even is that there will be the

small opportunity from which a few spaceships, crossing a unknown world almost

in the maps, twice greater than the Earth, can get to see three human beings

to fly on him? Anyway, it had wanted to indicate, since all our schemes and

adaptations have not lead to us more than to this, would not be of more than

we forgot them during just a short time that we have left and on his place she

kissed to me. But its throat was closed and he did not say anything of all

this. - Therefore? - an impatience note was reflected in the voice of Sandra

-. very you are shut up, Freeman Wace. - I feel It, my lady - it murmured - I

believe that I am not very apt to establish conversation under... hum, these

circumstances. - I feel much not to be described for ofrecerte the consolation

as the religion - she with sharp sarcasm said. A great white wave raised over

the outer cover, and reached the turret. They noticed as the steel and the

plastic shook as a result of the blow. During a little while, while P! water

crowded they remained in a blind person and tenebrous runruneamiento. Soon,

while it was clarified, and Wace saw how far despoliation had arrived and it

asked if they would get to be able to be able to reach the raft of go Rijn,

that was outside of the hatchway, and were a whiteness that blinded its eyes.

First it did not believe it and soon it had not believed it because one did

not dare, but later no longer could deny it. - Lady Sandra - it spoke with

immense well-taken care of; it did not have to notify to shouts to her like a

terrestrial one of more low quality. - Yes? - It did not separate the Vista of

the contemplation of the North part of the completely empty horizon, except of

clouds and light. - There, my lady. Towards the Southeastern. She would

believe... sails, fighting itself against the wind. - What? - She was like a

exteriorización on the part of her. Something that made laugh aloud to Wace. -

a boat or something similar - it indicated who comes in this direction. - she

did not know that the native ones were marine - she in voice said is. - they

are not it, my lady... in the environs of Thursday Landing - it talked back

but this it is a great planet, approximately four times the area of the Earth

surface, and we only know a small part a continent. - Then, you do not know as

they are these sailors? - My lady, I do not have nor the smaller Idea.

Chapter 3

Nicholas van Rijn arrived giving to shouts when hearing those of its fellow

traveller. - Condemnation - it shouted - a boat you said? Better serious than

it was a shark if you are not mistaken, Condemnation! - It was towards the

turret and it watched towards outside through the plastic and with salt water

incrustations. The light was very tenuous and also due to the proximity of the

loaded storm clouds that whipped with the air their face. - Therefore what is

that, where it is that pestilente boat? - There Sir - that sailboat said to

Wace-. - Swift-sailing Powder and bullets in your cement head that is a

boat... no, hopes, condemnation, is a true very rudimentary boat although with

a main mast and everything, ja! and what way to handle has it, it must have a

quite great rudder, that all the Gods help us! A species of boat goes! - What

another thing could wait for you in a planet without mortals? - Wace said.

Their nerves were too sensible for him, to remember the deference that had to

the prince of the merchants. - Hum... that is not more than rescue boats,

perhaps some other species of rare boats, quickly, dame dressed dry, this is

too cold for naked monkeys. Wace realized of which they go Rijn was put in a

pool species and that the bitter water of the sea got to along with cover

until its figure its legs. - I know where they are, Nicholas - Sandra said

going towards the part of the corridor. The boat put every minute more

dangerous than it happened as the water entered through all the parts of the

same one. Wace helped its head to undress of the coverall that took. Naked,

they go Rijn remembered gorila of two meters of very velludo stop and with a

belly, with its backs very bent. Shouting to great voices its indignation and

the cold and the humidity and the slowness of its assistants. But a great ring

flashed in their heavy fingers and bracelets in their wrist and a small medal

of San Dimas hung of their neck. On the contrary to Wace that found more

practitioner a very short haircut and to shave itself very well, they go Rijn

left his oily one and black hair was encaracolase and, to take it long to the

last fashion, also letting grow his acierated moustaches below its nose. It

entered the department of navigation with force and murmuring until it found a

bottle of rum. - Ahhh! I knew that this damn bottle had hidden it I somewhere,

it put the bottle in his lips and gave three or four drinks. Good, very good!

now I feel like a human man and respectable. It gave average return doing to

remember a majestic planet when Sandra returned. The only dresses that it had

found that they could conv enir to him to him, were the his own ones, those of

him, a species of shirt with great bows and adornments in the part of the

figure, trousers with great reflections of silk and averages, shoes and a hat

of pens. - Thanks - he with courtesy now Wace said while seen me, he sees

Perfect the living room and there you will find a bottle of and a box of

Perfect and a small bottle of apple juice. Please, he sees look for them and

soon he sees outside find our guests. - Blessed San Pedro! - the living room

shouted Wace- is already full of water. - Ah? - they go Rijn sighed - then we

needed only the bottle apple juice, now sees express, you do what you can. -

It made crack its fingers. Wace said very quickly. - we do not have time,

gentleman, I must make still all the route of the ship and to look for our

ammunition, these native ones could be hostile. - If they have heard speak

others to us, it is possible - she acceded go Rijn. It began to put his

clothes inner of natural silk -. Brrrr. Five thousand spark plugs would right

now give to be in my office of Amsterdam! - To what santo you would offer

them? - Lady Sandra asked. - To San Nicholas, my christian name... pattern of

the nomadic ones and... - San Nicholas would want it better in writing - she

said, go Rijn had a acierated glance but one cannot speak nor answer the

heiress of a nation, with important commercial concessions to offer. It spent

some time before they were outside. They go Rijn one was worried to leave by

the emergency hatch and had to be pushed. The period of rotation of Diomedes

was only of twelve hours and average and this latitude of 30 North degrees was

still in the side of the winter equinox; thus the sun was arriving at the low

part from the sea at a devilish speed. They arrived at the superior part and

they left drags it of the wind along with cracked the waves on them. They

could not make another thing. - it is not a place for a poor old and fat man -

it whispered go Rijn, the typhoon took the words over him and it made fly over

him and it made fly over the stirred up sea. Better it would be than I had had

left in house in Holland where he is so lukewarm and I do not lose my few last

years of life in squandering it here. Wace directed its eyes towards the

waves. The boat approached. At the same time it could appreciate the masters

of the crew and go Rijn did not abstain in praising them. - I would put to

them in the club Sunday Yacht, condenac ion, yes! and to put them in the next

regatas betting by them. It was a boat of more than thirty meters in length

with a good elaboration in his candles but he did not have the speed and the

prestancia of other boats. - the diomedanos - the tone of Sandra was still in

its ears under the threatening wind and the humming of waters -. You have

spoken with them sometimes during a year and means, no? What we can hope of

them? Wace shrank of shoulders: - What we can hope of a tribe of humans back

in the age gives stone? They could be cannibal poets or or both things.

Everything what I know is the tribe of Tyrlanian that is hunting emigrants.

They always stay according to the letter of their laws; they are not very

scrupulous as soon as if spirit, naturally but is in general a decent tribe. -

You speak its language? - I speak It whichever allows me my to paladar human

and my tecnoterrestre culture, my lady. I do not mean that he can

include/understand all his concepts but I get out of trouble myself. Exhausted

the spaceship moved, heard as the walls crujían and the water that entered on

the inside and at the same time felt like a convulsion under their feet.

Sandra fell against him. Then it could appreciate drops frozen in his

eyebrows. - This does not mean that I will include/understand the local

language - it finished we are more far from Tyrlan than Europe of China. The

canoe was now almost on them, never had been able to arrive more on time. What

it was of the spaceship was going to sink in some minutes, arrived on time,

the sailors threw cords, an anchor of sea and fornidos arms delivered all the

attacks to remove to them from the water. Slowly then a diomedano approached

with a cord. Other two went closely together to their side, of course noticed

being guards. First of them one approached and it watched the humans. Tyrlan

being very to the north, many of their inhabitants, not yet had returned from

the tropical; and this one was the first diomedano that Sandra had found. It

very was wet, it had much cold and incapable to be able to enjoy the presence

and the cruel grace of his movements but despite she watched with much

thoroughness. Possibly it would have to live with this race during long time

if it is that they did not kill it. It was of the stature of a small man, with

a thick tail of a meter of long and finishing in a species of rudder grasiento

and tremendous wings that were folded on their back. Their arms were under the

wings near half of the body and had an aspect that remembered something human,

under their muscle hands full with five fingers. The legs were less familiar,

curved backwards from the feet with four heels that could have almost belonged

to a prow bird. The head at the end of the neck that had been twice more

length than the one of a human, was round, with an ample forehead of yellow

eyes and with membranes under thick eyebrows, a black nose in a face that had

short whiskers and a great mouth with oseznos teeth of the fat dining rooms.

It did not have external ears but they had a full muscle crest in the head

that helped them to control the flight. It covered a brown species to them of

skin; he was really a mammalian male. It dressed two belts that happened

through their "backs" and a third that tied in their figure and pair leather

bags that hung of the same one. It took a knife, an axe of pedernal. Through

the thick dark it was very difficult to guess what class of arms took their

companions, was something long and thin, but that surely was not rifle,

because in this planet there was copper nor no iron. Wace inclined towards

ahead and forced its language to pronounce some syllables of tyrlaniano. -

We... are... friends. Me... he includes/understands... you? All one retahíla

of totally strange words was against him. One shrank and it extended its

hands. The diomedano became through the spaceship and its body inclined

towards dejante while it balanced his wings and their tail, and quickly tied

its own cord to the same place in which they were tied anc those of the

spaceship. - a square knot - it said Go Rijn almost, calmly makes desire me

return to house. In the other end of the cord they began to tie the canoe. The

diomedano returned its face to Wace and indicated to its vessel. Wace agreed

but suddenly account occurred that the gesture was probably without no meaning

and took a very precarious step in that direction there. The diomedano took

another cord and it passed it over him. It indicated towards there to the

humans and made gestures. - Already I include/understand - it said Go Rijn -,

they do not dare to approach more. He is too feasible that their boats explode

against us. We must tie this cord to us around our bodies and they will hoist

to us. Blessed it is Cristóbal, what things must to him make to an old poor

man man with the already too hard bones! - But nevertheless it is left our

food - Wace said. The cruise of the sky still moved and lowered more, the

diomedano moved with nervousness. - No, not - it shouted Go Rijn -. it had the

impression that if shouted enough it could be made understand and penetrate in

the linguistic barrier. Their arms extended. - you never include/understand to

me, species of idiot? Bond more than we suffocate in which it is of our boat

in this pestilente ocean, that to try to eat your food. We will die! We will

have pains belly! Suicide! - its mouth Indicated, gave blows in its abdomen

and indicated the rations. Wace realized of which these demonstrations were

too dangerous. Here they had a planet with oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon,

sulfide and biochemical proteins that formed genes, chromosomes, cells,

weaves, protoplasma to give a reasonable definition, and the human that tried

to eat a fruit or meat of the diomedanos, would later die ten minutes of fifty

any allergic reactions. They were not the appropriate proteins. In fact only

certain foods would cause that the men did not reach chronic diseases like

asthma and other manifestations that could be reached in the air that they

breathed or the water that drank. It had today been during many hours,

reuniting all the supplyings of food that they had in the cruise to bring them

to the boats. This lujurioso atmospheric vessel in which it had arrived with

Goes Rijn was quick to do orgías of "picnic" when they assaulted the desire to

them. It was full of bread, mantequilla sweet, Edam cheese, smoked salmon,

peaches, fruits in conserve, chocolate, pudín, beer, came and God knows how

many other things to allow that three human beings could be there during

months. The diomedano extended its wings doing to hit at the same time them

and fluttering to stay still on. The merchant hoped estólido indicating once

in a while with the finger towards the accumulated boxes. Finally the

diomedano reached the idea or simply it gave with her. But it was very just a

short time that to lose. He indicated towards the canoe, one of his companions

he arrived, he undid the fastenings and he began to transport boxes. Wace

helped Sandra to tie the cord around her. - I am afraid that one will get wet

before very many gives to reach the boat, my lady - he said trying to smile.

She made a gesture of indifference. - Therefore this she is pioneering Bravo

between stars. I will say it to my cut of poets when she returns to house if

she is that I return. When it had crossed and the cord had descended, They go

Rijn made signs to Wace. , They go Rijn was discussing with the diomedano

head. All this was carried out in the true one and real language among them,

Wace did not know it but they had reached a point in which the indignation

shouts were sent from one to another one. As well as Wace had reached the

boat, They go Rijn seated on the cruise of the sky and it did not want to

move. And when youngest, Wace made its arrival to the soaked boat of water,

the merchant had won evidently the battle. A diomedano could raise

approximately fifty kilos in short distances in the air. Three of them

improvised a cord who tied of an a others and hung of her to Go Rijn to

transport it over the water. , they go Rijn not yet had reached the canoe when

the cruise of the sky sank.

Chapter 4

The boat took on her a hundred of native all armed, some dressing helmets and

constructed laminated leather armors, a catapult that as soon as it was seen

through the dark, was mounted in the cover; in addition it had a cabin done of

trunks and covered of marine seaweed that finished by the final part in a

species of carabela of medieval style. In the ceiling two men directed a long

rudder. - It is well sure we have found a navigation boat - he shouted Go Rijn

-, it is not so good but in aim. With a retailer I can speak; with a

pestilente official and bridles of silver in its brain I only can shout. -,

entrecerró the eyes directing them towards the night where the crack of the

storm became sensible. - I am a pecador poor man - it shouted - but this I

have not deserved it. You hear to me? After a little one tied the humans and

one went to them towards a cabin. The boat had begun to run before the

typhoon. The balance, the murmur of the waves and the wind and the

thunderclaps, had made echo in the conscience of Wace. It wanted, to only find

a place where he was dry, to take off its clothes soaked in water and to let

themselves fall in a bed and sleep during one hundred of years. The cabin was

small. Three humans and two diomedanos let site hardly to seat. But she was

lukewarm and a stone lamp hung of the ceiling and threw a tenuous full light

of grotescas shades with the movement. The native one which it habíase found

first with them was present. Its crystal dagger took it in a hand and it on

the lookout maintained it like a lion; but half of its attention seemed to be

concentrated in the other that was supported and was older, with gray tufts in

its hair, and that was tied in one of the corners with a cord piece. The eyes

of Sandra were narrowed. The diomedano with the knife watched through the room

and Go Rijn swore: - You, species of idiot, want to let see to us how is a

weapon? First the native one said something to which it was tied. This last

one made a species of answer with gruñido and soon it became towards the

humans. When it spoke it did not sound what as if said was the same language

that the one of the others. - Thus, then! An interpreter! - he said Go Rijn -.

You, to speak English? Hw, hw, hw! - a blow in its thigh occurred. - No, it

hopes, more bond to prove - it said, and then Wace was expressed in

tyrlaniano. - understand you to Me? It is possibly the only conversation that

we pruned to have together in common. The captive raised his encrestada head

and seated on his hands and their heels. What responded was almost familiar. -

It speaks very slowly, please - Wace said, and then it felt how all the dream

that before watched it left him. Something that it could include/understand

arrived to him. - You do not use a version of the Carnoy that I have heard

before. - Carnoy? Wait for, if, one of the tyrlanianos has mentioned a

confederation of tribes far from the South and who they have such name. I am

using the language of a type of Tyrlania. - I do not know this race, they do

not invernan in our fields. Nor either carnoy like regular thing, but once in

a while does not do it when all of them are in the tropical some arrives at

pas ar this way, therefore - and then he said something ininteligible. The

diomedano with the knife said something, impatient and gave a sharp answer.

The interpreter said to Wace: - I am Tolk, a moohera of the Lannachska. - what

of what? - Wace said. It is not easy human beings to even talk when they must

use a jargon different from a strange language. The dense accent imposed by

human the buccal cords and the ears of the diomedano - that heard to them in a

species of subsound, but did not get to reach the complete conversation; the

declination of the maximum answers was different -, to the aim Wace it needed

a few hours to be able to be made understand in a information of a few

phrases. Tolk was a specialistic linguist of the great tribe of Lannach, was

one of its functions to learn each one of the languages that arrived at their

tribe and which they were many. Perhaps its title could be denominated

heraldo, because their duties included a great amount of ceremonial subjects

and presided over all the messengers of the body. Flock was in war with

draconay, and Tolk had been captured in a recent skirmish. The other diomedano

present was called Delp and been a high official of much rank of draconay.

Wace posponed speaking much about itself, not only by desire to be somewhat

reserved as far as him, but who because account of the so difficult task

occurred that it would be to be made include/understand. It requested to Tolk

that noticed Delp to him that the food which they had removed from the cruise,

as well as was essential for the earth men, could kill the diomedanos. - and

why this would have to say I to him - Tolk with a scorn gesture asked from the

human point of view, he was very disagreeable. - If not it beams - Wace said,

can repel on you when he knows that you did not do it. - It is truth. Tolk

spoke to Delp. The official gave a fast answer. - He says that any damage will

not be done to you unless you want it thus - Tolk explained -, it says that

you must learn his language so that you can speak with him. - What is what it

is saying? - he interrupted Go Rijn. Wace explained it. They go Rijn exploded.

- What? What says? To have left here we until the death and all the demons of

the world? But damn am, already would explain I to him! Wace rose on its feet.

The wings of Delp, fluttered until becoming to put in their site. It showed

his teeth. The door was opened and a pair of guards watched the interior. One

of them took tomahawk and another one took a species of wood saber that

flashed. They go Rijn took the hand towards its revolver. The voice of Delp

spread in the room. Tolk translated: - It says that we have calm. - After to

have spoken a little more and with considerable ones, efforts to be able to

guess at some moments the part between Wace and Tolk, were explained: - he

does not wish badly no, but he also must think about his town. You are

something new. To perhaps you prune to help him or perhaps you are so bad for

him that not you allow marcharos. I have to have time to discover it. You must

yourselves undress of everything what you take above and leave it to its

position. On the other hand he will provide to you with other dresses since

account occurs of which you do not have skins that cover to you. When Wace had

interpreted all this for the merchant Goes Rijn said with surprise: - I

believe that we do not have election at this moment. We could get rid of many

of them. Perhaps we could empower completely of the boat. But we cannot sail

all the way until our earth by we ourself. - Without nothing else that what we

have we would die of hunger by the way. If I were younger... by good San

Jorge, would fight on the general principles. Hand by hand would take and

touch xilofón to him aside on its ribs and would cause that the nation

completely helped me. But now I am too old and fat and am tired and is very

hard to be old, boy. Frunció entrecejo on its inclining in front and agreed of

a full form of experience: - But, condemnation! Where they are the enemies who

pay to an a the others and where they are the honest retailers who have an

opportunity to remove small benefits although she is in these occasions?

Chapter 5

- First - Wace said -, you must include/understand that the world has a ball

form. - Our philosophers know this from kill time - he said to Delp with

complacencia-incluso the Barbarians as the Lannachoia has an Idea of the

truth. After all, they cover hundreds with kilometers every year in

emigration. We are not so movable, but, however, we must work in the

principles of Astronomy before we pruned to sail more far. Wace doubted if in

Draconay could be located they themselves with high accuracy. He was

surprising which its neolithic technology had finished not only in stone, but

in crystal and ceramics; they got to even mold some resins sintétic ace. They

had telescopes, a species of astrolabios, and tables of navigation based on

the Sun, stars and two small moons. Nevertheless, the compasses and the

chronometers required iron, in fact, did not exist absolutely in Diomedes.

Automatically it observed a rich market in power. The primitive tyrlanianos

were very eager by the equipment and the arms for metal, paying exorbitant

amounts in skins, gems and very useful juice in pharmacy and that did of

planet one of much value for the attention of Liga Polesotécnica. The Draconay

could use other more sophisticated objects: from clocks and rules, to machines

Diesel, and they were able to be able to provide higher prices. It could find

out from where it was: the Gerunis ship, headquarters of the official in head

of the fleet; and this extraordinary one, at the moment, creature who seated

in the cover and spoke with him, was in fact its jailer. How long had happened

since they crashed? fifteen days diomedanos? This would be more than one week

in the terrestrial aspect. A certain percentage of the Earth food already had

eaten it, he had insisted on learning the language of Draco, of their

companion of prison, Tolk. It was a luck that Liga had, necessarily, towards

long time, developed the principles by which the instruction could be given in

very just a short time, when trained ion pronounced one properly imaginac,

could reach to include/understand the things that were only said once. Same

Tolk used an almost identical system; it could not never have seen metal, but

the Heraldo was semantically sophisticated. - Good, then - it said to Wace

titubeando and EC putting errors in its vocabulary, but adapted its then

intentions, you know that this world in ball form gives returns around the

Sun? - A few philosophers create this - Delp said -. I am a practitioner, and

I never take care much of some of these things. - the movement of our world is

not very usual. In fact, in many aspects it is a place not very delimited.

Your sun is colder and redder than ours, thus, then, your homes are colder.

This sun has a mass... What you say... oh, llámalo a weight... not much more

that ours; and it is approximately to the same distance. Nevertheless,

Diomedes, as we called to your world, has a year only a little more length

than ours. Seven hundred eighty and two days diomedanos, he is not that?

Diomedes twice has more the diameter of the Earth, but it is I lack of heavy

equipments that we found in our worlds. On the other hand its gravity.

According to I have understood, I only weigh one more tenth part here than

what would weigh in my world. - I do not include/understand it - Delp said. -

Oh, does not matter - Wace with certain to weigh said. - What is what there is

of rare about the movement of Ykt'hanis - said Delp. This era the name that

dedicated to their planet and did not mean "Earth" but, in a language where

the names were compared, it could be translated by "Oceanest" and was

feminine. Wace needed some time to answer. The technical words escaped of

their vocabulary. It was, mainly, that the axial inclination of Diomedes was

almost to ninety degrees, so that the poles were virtually in the elliptical

plane. But this fact connected with the cold of the poor ultraviolet sun, had

made the module of life. In anyone of the poles, almost half of the year was

spent in one night total. The light of the endless day, was very special at

night, but they were invernadores inexpressive. To forty and five degrees of

latitude, a quarter of year even was in the dark in a very sad winter that the

world had never known. As much to the north as to the south, it was solely

where the diomedanos could live. The annual emigration required a great amount

to them of time and energy, and fell on a acierated war of the paleolítico

level. Here, to thirty degrees to the north, the absolute winter lasted sixth

of the year - something similar to two months terrestrial and were no a few

weeks of flight towards equatorial territories of reproduction and to return

more in the same time. Therefore, loa Lannaska was a cultivated town very. The

Drak'honai was native gives the south much more. But they could not do much

without metals. Naturally, Diomedes had abundant magnesium, beryllium and

aluminum, but, of what could serve all this to them if they did not develop

the first electrolytic technique that required copper and silver? Delp

inclined the head: - You mean that always it is equinox in your earth? - Good,

not always. But according to your measures of the time, almost. - Then for

that reason you do not have wings. The Lodestar did not put wings to you

because you did not need them. - Oh..., perhaps. Anyway they had not served to

us for anything. The terrestrial air is very voluble for a creature of your

stature or mine and to be able to fly by its own one to be able. - What means

voluble? Air is... air. - So dense it is the air, that if it had proportional

amounts of oxygen or nitrogen, it would poison to me. Luckyly the atmosphere

of Diomedes contains seventy and nine percents of neon. Oxygen and nitrogen

are less constituent in the proportion: their partial pressures do not get to

exceed those of the Earth. The same it happens with dioxide of carbonic carbon

or anhídrido and the water steam. Wace continued: - We speak of us. You

include/understand that the stars are that other suns like yours, but

infinitely more far? and that the Earth is a world of such stars? - Yes. I

have heard the philosophers comment it. I will believe it. - it give account

to You of until where arrives our power to be able to cross the space between

stars? You know to what extent we can recompensaros by your aid if you take to

house, and until the point in which our friends can punish to you to retain to

me here? For a moment Delp extended its wings, its hair shone on its back, and

their eyes were opened wide. It belonged to a very proud tribe. Suddenly one

straightened up. Through all the racial differences the human could realize

pregnancy in which rallaba. - You yourself you said to me terrestrial that you

crossed the ocean from the East, and that in thousands of kilometers you did

not see more than an island. It is to where they reach our explorations.

Possibly we could not fly until so far, llevándoos to you or a message of your

part to your friends without a place where to rest sometimes. Wace agreed,

slowly and pensativamente. - I already realize. And you could not we took in a

fast canoe before our provisions were exhausted. - I am afraid that no. Even

with favorable winds throughout the way, a boat is much more slow that the

wings. More perhaps half year would cost to us or, to cross the distances of

which you speak. - But it must have some means... - Perhaps. But it remembers

that we are maintaining one hard war. We cannot use many workers or soldiers

for salvaros to you. - I do not hope Either that the admiral tries it

Chapter 6

I SAW To the South it was Lannach, an island as large as Britain. Near it was

Holmonach, an archipelago there, that described a curve of hundreds of

kilometers towards the North, towards the regions more freezing. Thus, then,

the islands acted like a limit and refuge, that was defined by the sea of

Achan, protecting to him of the great currents you cold of the ocean. Here

they were the Drak'honai. Nicholas Van Rijn, was on the main bridge of cover

of the Gerunis, without separating his glance of the main thickness of the

Navy of the Fleet towards the East. Its atuendos of robust fabric, badly made,

and their trousers that one of the stars of those beings had done to him

without many cares, irritated their customary skin to him to loa more

expensive weaves. It was already tired of jamón in candy and the conserve

peaches, although when such reserves were exhausted, it would begin to die of

hunger. Single the fact to think that they had captured to him, fact prisoner,

and that their desire "was not considered by anybody, meant an enormous

anguish for him. And it was not reason for less anguish, thinking about the

money that was losing the Company by the lack of personal monitoring. - Bah! -

it exclaimed -. If they put all their persistence in taking to our world

again, they could do it! Sandra watched it been strange. - and what would make

meanwhile the Lannach, while the Drak'honai put all their persistence in

giving back us to our world? - it responded -. this war Is something very

important for them and the Drak'honai still could lose it. - By the revolting

mouth of Satán! - it said, extending his hairy fist to the air -. While they

dissent by their small and insignificant territories, the Solar Company of

Especies and Licores, this losing a million daily actions. - But she gives the

chance of which the war is a subject of life or death for both sides - she

said. - Also for us - prayed malhum said he, removing the pipe and remembering

at the same time that the tobacco was it lost in the water flood -. When it

finds who put the pump in my cruise...! - it did not pass through his

imagination offering excuses to Sandra it to have put in this subject. In

addition, perhaps, she was she who indirectly had caused the situation in

which they were -. Good! - it finished in a calmer tone -, it is truth that we

must fix the subjects here, I create I. To cause that they finish the war, so

that they can make important things, like the one taking to house. Sandra

frunció the frown because of the brightness of waters, saying at the same

time: - You mean that we must help the Drak'honai...? He is not something that

concerns much to me. In addition they are the aggressors. On the other hand

they saw his spouses and their hijitos dying of hunger. - He sighed and he

ended up saying -: He is something very difficult to fix. But, since we must

do it, we do it. - Oh, no! - its chin said Go Rijn inclining -. We will help

the other side. To the Lannachska. - What! - she exclaimed separating of the

railing and showing before him her cheek as if she had badly heard -. But...

but... - Sight - it explained Go Rijn -. I understand a little some of the

things of the policy. The policy is not very different from the one of our

galaxy here. It is a culture of powerful aristocrats, these Flock, but all the

force of the power is in the throne, the Admiralty. Now the admiral is old,

and his son, the inheriting prince, has many things that to shut up. I have

very fine ears, and in addition they forget that we far better heard that they

in this atmosphere that seems sapa of peas. Yes, already I know it. That

T'heonax is a very hard type. - Thus, because - it continued Go Rijn- we will

help to the Flock against the Drak'honai. What has of bad in it? The

Drak'honai already is winning. The Flock does not make but have itself in a

war of guerrillas in the most rustic parts of Lannach. They are still very

numerous, but the Flock has all the most strategic force and sites in their

hands, and they do not need more than to maintain a status quo to win. Of any

way, what we can do, and who God did not grant wings to us, in a guerrilla? -

Good... yes - it acceded -. What you mean she is that we cannot offer nothing

to the Drak'honai if he is not to deal and to treat later in them, in case

they took us world to our. - Exactly. And what haste has they in putting

itself in contact with Liga? To them it matters to them I comine of desconoc

gone like us coming from the Earth. It is more important to them to

consolidate to themselves in his conquests, that to be understood with

powerful foreigners. In addition, I know what they will do with us; I know its

intentions. Perhaps T'heonax lets to us die of hunger, or perhaps it cuts the

neck to us. Perhaps it throws our head of cattle cough by the hut and says

later that never it heard of us. Or perhaps, when one of the boats of Liga

finds him, he says, already we removed to some humans from the sea, we treated

to them as well as we could but we could not restitute to them to the Earth at

the moment that was necessary. - But he is that they could, really? I mean, Fr

eeman Van Rijn, how you would take you to us to the Earth, with any class of

diomedana aid? - Bah, details! I am not engineer. The engineers I rented them.

My work does not consist of doing the impossible thing, but in that others do

not do to him. There is a thing, and only it is that how I go to organize

something, if I am not more than a prisoner of a king who does not have any

interest in putting itself in contact with my fellow citizens? Eh? - Despite

the Lannach tribe one is very subjugated, and they will allow him, as you say,

to write its own card, in other words to make its will. Yes. - Sandra laughed

with one picks of genuine humor -. Very well, friend! Now only I have left a

question that to do, how we will be able to arrive at the Lannach? It extended

a hand as if she showed the environs. It was not a very promising panorama.

The Gerunis was a typical boat: a great structure, a group of united trunks an

a the others with enough space opened among them to allow the flexibility of

the boat, and these tied to others. A wall of put trunks of foot, tied to the

cross-sectional ones, defined a vast surface and supported the main deck. The

prow and the stern rose by each one of their parts, showing on their flat

surfaces the artillery and in last end the excessive rudder. Between these,

prow and stern, extended a group of staterooms also constructed with trunks,

and tied before to each other with marine cords that made they themselves with

the seaweed and plants that the fishermen gathered in the sea. These

staterooms used to store them food, tools and to shelter so much to the

soldiers as my wife and pequeñuelos that went with them. The dimensions of the

superior part were approximately of sixty meters by fifteen and that finished

in an inclined part that had the form of a platform and with a great profile

in the frontal part of the boat. If they had a favorable wind - remembering

the wind force in most of the planets the boat that we could here call similar

to a true boat it could make several knots to the hour and with a smooth wind

it could be rowed. A hundred of diomedanos took with himself the boat, plus

its spouses and their children. Of these, ten pairs were aristocrats with

departments deprived in the part of stern; other twenty were marine with a

certain specialty in the navigation questions, and that were separated in a

room for each family in the incipal cover pr. The rest was marine common, that

they had a cabin in the superior part for, all of them. Far from the rest of

the square did not float there. They were ships of several types, some of

constructed them of a very rudimentary form and that was united to the

Gerunis, and others were positions, some took great concavities in which they

stored to the fish and the marine seaweed. Often they were several together

ones forming a temporary island Surrounding to them or patrolling among them

they were the smallest canoes. Of another part the wings were fought in the

sky, where an air force detachment completely watched the operations to the

observation, they formed the military heart of the force of the Draco. Beyond

this swarm that was to his around, the other divisions of the fleet darkened

the water as far as they could reach the eyes of the man. Most of them they

were fishing. It was a brutal work where the long networks removed by force of

muscle. Almost all the life of the Draco was a full work of muscular force and

in which there was to double the back. - I would like to see them work as

enslaved - she observed Go Rijn -, suddenly she gave a blow to the rudder that

was done conscientiously. - Although this is of good wood and still he is

green, they work it with much calm, glass and stone equipment. I would like to

rent to some of these individuals, if the Union of workers could allow taking

me them there. Sandra gave a blow in the ground with the foot. It had not

complained the death danger. Of the cold, the malaise and the difficulty of

the language of Tolk, that was made understand through Wace. But there were

limits. - If you do not reflect in which you say, or cause that have your

words felt, Freeman I will go away to another part! I asked to you how we

could leave here. - they will rescue the Lannascka to Us - he said Go Rijn -,

or rather, they will come to rob to us. Thus this way it will be better. Soon

if they fail, our Delp friend cannot, to say that the fault was ours, and that

we do not have anything to do in being wished by all the parts. It

straightened up. - What you mean? How they are going to know they who we are

here? - Perhaps Tolk will be said to it. - But Tolk is more prisoner than we,

it is not thus? - Thus it is. Nevertheless... - They go Rijn rubbed the hands

we have formulated a small plan. That Tolk has a good head. Almost as good as

mine. Sandra watched to him. - and you will want dignarte saying to me how you

you have fixed them to speak with Tolk, under the monitoring of the enemy and

in addition not knowing to speak draco? - Oh, spoke Draco very well - it said

Go Rijn with certain humor you did not hear say and admit the conversations to

me that were made on board? You think thus because I armed much mess, but I

went many hours taking lessons from Tolk. You think that I am so deaf and as

idiot as not to learn easily? half of the time we are speaking and it is

teaching its language to me of Lannach. Nobody in the boat knows it, so when

they hear speak to us and we pronounced strangers noises, think that perhaps

Tolk tries to speak words of our world, is not that? They still think that she

is hopeless of being able to teach to me, through Wace, and to be able to put

in the head their language to me of Draco. Ja, ja! they are stupid the

condenador I yesterday explained to Tolk a dirty joke to him in Lannachamay.

It was put very serious and one became angry. That test that this old poor man

Goes Rijn, still has sense, and that it is well still. And we do not say

anything of the rest of its anatomy. Sandra remained rigid during a little

while, trying to include/understand what meant, when wanting to learn two

nonhuman languages simultaneously, one of them prohibited. - I do not see why

Tolk seemed displeased - it murmured Go Rijn -, it was a good joke. Listening:

There was a sailor who traveled in one of colonial planets and... - Already I

can guess why - Sandra interrupted quickly -, I mean... why Tolk did not think

that it was a graceful story. In...! Freeman Wace was explaining it the other

day to me. Here in Diomedes, they do not have the preoccupation of the

constant sensuality. They only reproduce once every year in the tropical. They

do not have families in the sense in that we have them. They do not think in

the same way that we - she sonrojó - and they do not have that interest that

lasts in us all the year, in the questions of which before we spoke and that

stops we seem very normal. They go Rijn agreed. - All this I know it, but Tolk

has seen something in the one of the fleet and within this one, they marry and

they are born at any time of the year, like the humans. - This impression

tired to me - she said, slowly and she worries to me. Freeman Wace says that

the cycle gives reproduction is in them hereditary. By instinct, by glands, or

as it is wanted to him to call. How could those of the fleet live different

from as they dictate his glands to them? - Good, I do not know it, but they do

it. - They go Rijn shrank his wide shoulders. - Perhaps we obtain that some

scientist worries later about these subjects, and forms a thesis about it.

Suddenly, it, crossed itself of arms and watched the distant spot. Their eyes

acquired a gray tone. - But you have not said... what is going to happen? How

it is going to speak Tolk of us to the Lannach? What we will do? - I do not

have the smaller idea - he said to him to her with certain unconcern -, I

already me will fix them. He also watched the distant spot, towards the red

horizon of the sky. Several kilometers more far heard an enormous humming, at

the same time something that was transported as if it was an enormous wood

castle, and that floated in the air on all the extension of the boats of the

Draco. To beat of wings one rises from there and it arrived to the Gerunis. -

But I believe that we will be able to find some solution quickly - it said Go

Rijn-because his rheumatic Majesty arrives here to decide what we will have

does

Chapter 7

The troops of guard of the admiral, a hundred of them to the service of him,

landed with a magnificent exactitude and extended their arms, taking a

strategic position on the boat. Polished stones and oily leathers were

reflected on the cover, having radiated a light that remembered the reflection

of the sea, and the air of its wings crossed by the boat. The crew of the

Gerunis crowded around itself respectfully near just arrived, on the ceiling

of the cover cabin and sent the ritual shout of welcome. Delp to her Orican

advanced on the stern and it inclined before his gentleman. Their wife, the

beautiful Rodoni Sa Axollon and its two hijitos arrived after him, crawling on

cover with the hollowed wings. All of them dressed the suits scarlet and the

ring pedrería that were the ritual dress before their gentleman. The three

human beings stayed next to Delp. They go Rijn had suggested them would not

have to incline. - he does not have right to that a member of Liga

Polesotécnica must incline on the knees and the elbows. Anyway I am not done

stops: this. Tolk de Lannach seated timid next to Go Rijn, their wings were

tied and and a bow around its neck was taken hold by the other end at the hand

of a powerful sailor. Their eyes were weak and fixedly watched the admiral as

if they were those of a serpent. And the armed male Young people who formed

the cut of honor of guard of Delp, their captain, were somewhat intimidated in

their ways - not by the presence of Syranax, but towards its son the apparent

heir on which the admiral inclined -. Their arms, their swords, his tomahawks

and the wood bayonets were raised and they showed them with a gesture of total

respect, Wace thought that They go Rijn would have to love the discord.

Syranax clarified the throat, watched all and indicated with its snout towards

the humans. - Which of you is the captain? - it asked. It had a deep voice,

but no longer it arrived from the bottom of his lungs and was a certain one I

clear one's throat in her. Wace went ahead. Its answer was the one that Goes

Rijn had said to him that it gave quickly and without explaining. - the other

man, is our head, gentleman. But he does not speak your language very well. I

can have some difficulty with her, so we will have to use to your Lannacho

prisoner like interpreter. T'heonax moved the head. - How will be able to know

he what you meant to us? - it has been teaching your language to us - Wace

said -. As you know, Sir, the foreign languages are the main occupation in

their life. Because of this natural ability, as well as to its special

experience with us, it will be able often to guess what we mean when we looked

for a word. - It seems reasonable. The gray head of Syranax, moved. - Yes. - I

am not safe! - T'heonax, watched with certain hardness to Delp. It had

returned to face him. -... therefore, we speak - They go Rijn rose -. My good

friend... um... and... to pokkar, which is the word? MY admiral, we to

speak... good... to good brothers brothers, is as well as to say, Tolk? Wace

watched it in spite of which Sandra had whispered to him, when fairy took to

them by the force to receive the visitors here, could not think that so badly

accent and so bad grammar could be gotten to include/understand. And why?

Syranax moved with impatience. - It would be better if we spoke through its

companion - it suggested. - Noses! - he shouted Go Rijn-, no, no, nor to

speak, to speak i myself. Directly to you, as you correspond to its title. We

to speak like brothers. Syranax sighed. But it was not happened to take the

opposite to him to the human. A foreign aristocrat, was despite, an

aristocrat, and to the eyes of chaste it was normal that one could acclaim its

rights to speak by itself. - it had visited to Them before - the admiral said

but they had not been able to talk with me and were other many things that to

do. As they were hopeless more more and, the draconianos became more dangerous

in their ambushes. It does not spend any day that we have some battle,

although is without importance. - Eh? - They go Rijn did as if it

comparativily took to the account with its fingers-xammaganai... déjeme to

see, xammaganai... xammaganai... ah, yes! A small fight! I have never seen

fights, old admiral, I mean honorable admiral. T'heonax was put severe. - your

language, terrestrial Watches! - it shouted. He had been going often to visit

the prisoners and they even remained under their orders. It was not left much

to do, but Wace decided. T'heonax was not able to admit that a being could

possibly exist being in something superior to T'heonax. Syranax, lay on cover

in a Ieonina position. T'heonax remained to its side watching the presence of

Delp. - I have continuously been receiving the news yours - he continued the

admiral are, ah! very remarkable. Yes, you do not speak. One says that you

came from stars. - Stars, yes! The head of Goes Rijn, inclined with somewhat

stupid idiot movement. - We come to stars. From very far. - It is truth, also

that your people have established points to the other side of the oceans? They

go Rijn watched Tolk. Lannach exposed the questions as if outside chiquillo.

After you vary explanations, Go Rijn agreed. - Yes, yes, we come across from

the ocean. From very far. - will not come your friends in your search? - They

will look for, very many, by Satan! They will watch throughout. You must treat

to us or or our friends will discover - exc to it lamó Van Rijn with an aspect

somewhat in a faint and leaning in their words in Tolk. - Oreo that the

terrestrial one must be excused by its lack of tasto- exclaimed heraldo dryly.

- It can conscientiously be a done lack of tact - whispered Syranax -. If

their friends can, truely to locate to him while he still lives, it will

depend much on the treatment class who receives from us, is not thus? The

problem is, if they will be able to find him soon. What, you say terrestrial?

- it sent the question dryly. They go Rijn backed down, I raise its hands like

defending itself of a blow. - Aid! - he shouted - ayúdanos, llévanos to house,

old admiral... honorable admiral... We will pay to you by far, much fish.

T'heonax murmured to the ear of its father: - the truth is coming out ahead,

although I already had suspected it before. Their friends do not have many

possibilities of finding him before he perishes by the hunger. If they did it,

not to be requesting it any thing with the insistence that does. - he had done

It in any case. Our friends very are not experienced in these subjects. Well,

it is good for knowing with the facility that the truth can remove from him. -

Thus, because - T'heonax with certain joy said, worrying about the whisper the

problem is not based in obtaining the maximum yield of the beast before it

dies. The breathing of Sandra was altered. Wace took it by the arm with the

opened mouth, and cut to Go Rijn when it was going to speak: - the tip Closes!

Neither one more a word, stuned! - as it wants that the merchant resigned

itself not to speak, he made an effort in a timid smile. - it does not have

right - it operated Delp- by the Lodestan, gentleman, they are invited,

nonenemy; we cannot serve to us as them! - What another thing you would do? -

T'heonax asked. His father watched to them and he stayed to the blunt

expectation if he hefted the arguments of both parts. Something like a spark,

exploded between Delp and T'heonax. East flash ran, through the lines of men

who were on the Gerunis and the troops of guard in an imperceptible movement.

They go Rijn seemed to crumble suddenly. It took a somewhat mechanical

aptitude, with the closed eyes and was of knees before Delp. - No, it did not

shout, llévanos to house, ayúdanos and we will help you! - What is this? He

was the wild gruñido one of T'heonax. It was towards ahead. - You have been

dealing with them, is not thus? - What you mean? - the teeth of the executive

hit a con others, to few centimeters of the snout of T'heonax. Their wings lev

were antaron sharpened like knives. - What class of aid went to darte these

creatures What is what you are thinking? - Delp extended its wings and it

showed to them the winds at the same time that inclined and leaving events

them they were solved. T'heonax, did not include/understand it, well. -

Somebody could think that you have the intention of desembarazarte of some

rivals within the troops - T'heonax whispered. In the silence that fell on the

boat, Wace could hear the difficult breathing of the rivals. It could hear the

noise of the other boats with his cables, hitting of the waves and the wind.

If a prince little loved by his town, finds an excuse to arrest a subordinate

whom they trust the others, he is possibly a man whom he will have to fight.

Of this form the things in Diomedes happened. Syranax, exploded again: - There

is some malentendido - it said shouting nobody is going to attack anybody or

against anything, between the creatures without wings. What has of the other

boat, of yours? What could make Delp by anyone of us, anyway? - This is to see

- T'heonax- responded but one arza that can fly throughout the oceans in less

of an equinoccial day, must know many arts. Then one became quickly towards Go

Rijn, with the resolution of the inquisidor whose suspicion is disappear, said

courteously: - Perhaps we pruned llegaros to house if you help us. We are not

safe of like being able to do it. Perhaps your device can help to llevaros

your planet. You will teach the way to us to use it. - Oh, yes! - it said Go

Rijn, and crossing his hands it put them on his head -. Oh, yes, good

gentleman. I will do it. T'heonax issued an order. One of the men of the Draco

approached with a great box. - I have myself been occupying of all these

things - the heir explained -. I have not tried to do mofa of this, nor to

play either with it, are all shining knives and some other objects.

Momentarily their eyes went towards their father. - You never have seen knives

like these, father, cut of a sharp way or abrade the skin, do not do more than

to cut smoothly. They can cut a whole tree. It opened the box. All a row of

officials, forgot its dignity to plows it were forced, and they crowded around

to his. T'heonax threw to them backwards. - You let the space free to be able

to make a demonstration - it exclaimed -. Arqueros, artillerymen, you cover

throughout, you are quick to shoot if it is necessary. - You mean to fight

until laying way to us? - Wace whispered -. Not it can! To try to advance a

passage between Sandra and the threat of the arms, that went towards them.

They will fill to us before of arrows. - Either I know it, or I know it! -

sotto murmured Go Rijn voce. - you think yourselves that because I am a

already old man and because it has made a few errors, I do not have head?

Hold, boy and when it explodes the commotion beats strong. - What...? But...

They go Rijn one became from backs and it said in a draco language and that as

soon as it was understood, but with a little common amiability: - Here... how

you call... thing to him... Here one... thing. It fires. It makes holes, by

Satan. - a portable, so small flame thrower? - it exclaimed. During a little

while a terror shade it was reflected in the acute voice of T'heonax. -

Already you I said it - Delp said -, we can win honorablemente much more

dealing with them. By the Lodestar I think that we could also take them to

house if we tried it. - You could wait for until it is dead, Delp, before

taking the Admiralty - Syranax said. Yes it said it in ridicule tone, fell

like a pump. The next sailors who were and had heard it, shook. The aerial

guards made use to their arcs and their artillery. Rodonis sa Axxalon,

extended its wings covering with them to its children and shouted. The women

who were on cover put in the cabins and they closed them without

including/understanding exactly what it happened, due to the terror. Delp

controlled. - It is enough! - it shouted -. Quedaos there! Calm! By all the

demons in the kingdom of Stars. She is that us these creatures have returned

crazy? - They see, she takes the revolver... we we called revolver... tightens

here... - the bullet left and it crashed against the main post. They go Rijn

jumped at the same time towards a side, but she could also see that the bullet

had deepened in centimeters on the wood. The flame blanquiazul had made its

appearance on the cover and had left a powder scent. At the same time which

all the men lay down towards a side, before he could let tighten the trigger.

The draconianos, shouted. The finders of curiosities covered the sky.

Nevertheless they were technicians falsified to their way. They were excited

more than scared. - Déjame to see that! - T'heonax took the revolver. - Delay,

good gentleman, hopes! - They go Rijn opened the firing chamber and with its

heavy hands it removed the bullets from the same one -. First we are going to

make sure. T'heonax watched and another one on the one hand the weapon. - What

weapon! - it sighed -. What arms! Staying in a position somewhat watchman,

hoping that They go Rijn it showed the amount of ideas that took in its mind.

Wace realized of which draconay was quite afraid. He was quite natural in any

case. But a revolver of this class would give only a serious effect him in a

field of fight tactics. - Or I fixed it - it said Go Rijn -, one, two, three,

four, five, or it is... four? Five? Six? Then it began to down give returns

above and between the piles of clothes, sheets, lighters, stoves and other

objects that took in the equipment. Where they are the other three arms? -

What other three? - T'heonax said fixedly watching to him. - We have six -

They go Rijn counted carefully on its fingers -. Yes, six. I occurred all them

to good Mr. Delp who is present here. - What? Delp, was running towards the

human. - That is lie, there are only three, and you have them there. - Aid -

it said Go Rijn behind T'heonax. The body of Delp, hit against the one of the

son of the admiral. Both draconay mixed the one with the other in a confusion

of wings and tails. - it is looking for that a riot is promoted - T'heonax

shouted. Wace threw to Sandra on the cover and he himself put itself next to

her, the air was fills of the arrows and other objects that were thrown. They

go Rijn became quickly towards the sailor who was in charge of Tolk, but this

one drako had gone away in defense of Delp. They go Rijn did not have more to

cut the networks that they imprisoned to him. - Not - it said in perfect

lannachamay -, it sees look for a Navy so that it comes to look for to us

here. Express before nobody realizes. Heraldo agreed, made make fun of its

wings and it went towards the sky. They go Rijn arrived next to Wace and

Sandra, saying to them: - This way. It signaled towards one of the cabins,

then it saw the revolution that the marine troops were organizing. - Rays and

thunders, plague and poison. - It pushed Sandra towards the cabin and the

three took refuge. When they were inside between ustadas women ace and young,

they watched outside towards the fight and They go Rijn said: - It is a pain

that Delp is losing. It does not have opportunity to be saved. And it is a

good type; we could have made good businesses with him. - By all the saints of

the sky! - exclaimed Wace- you exploded a civil war only so that your

messenger escaped? - It is that you knew an average one better? - it asked Go

Rijn

Chapter 8

When Krakna commander fell in the battle against the invaders, General

Concilio of the Flook, chose to a Trolwn to happen to him. This I conciliate

it was formed by the oldest and its election when choosing to one more young

person, did not have importance, since the Lannascha, thought that he was

natural that fues in lead by a young male. A commander needed the physical

strength two to see them through one lasts and dangerous emigration every

year; rarely he was debilitated. In any avalanche due to the impulse of its

age ilio inclined before conc general, the leaders of the clan who are spoken

fact too old for, to speak at the top of its squares, but not too old and

weak, to make some trip through the days of winter. The mother of Trolwan,

belonged to the group of Treekan, a rich line of blood that had great

properties in Lannach. She herself had added to this wealth the benefits of

some commerce. She knew that his father was Tornak de Wendru; to her it did

not concern much to him, but Trolwen had a very remarcado aspect of a true one

and brave soldier. Nevertheless, he had been a good soldier in all the senses

as much in the storm as in the hardest battles of any day, and this had caused

that Concilio did to him like the leader of all the clans. As of the ten days

she had been head of a lost cause; but her tribe had possibly fallen back

towards the hill of mountains, with more slowness of which they had done

without him. Now she lead to most of the Flook tribes, who were fighting

against the Fleet. The equinox of vernal finished happening, but the days

still were extended. Each morning the sun rose more to the North, but a

lukewarm air was mixed with the snow until all the fields of Lannach were

flooded of water. It only used one hundred thirty days to happen of the

equinox to the last Sun rise; from then, during the days without night of the

High Summer, there would not be more water for all the fields. And if Trkaska

were not founded by the leader, it exposed with certain Trolwen sadness, would

not be way to follow ahead, the Flook would be finished. Their wings moved

with certain lightness and rapidity in the sky as if it was the beat of a

nomadic one. Under him whiteness of mysterious clouds was no it more, with the

sea much more far underneath and that reflected tenuous tones. Over him one at

night was to the clarity and stars. The two moons had made their appearance.

It had a little cold, the humidity arrived until its lungs and felt as it

whips in his muscles, but had the ordinary joy of a normal flight. It thought

much about killing. A commander did not have to show indecision, but he was

young and the Cris Tolk of the Geral would include/understand. - How we will

be able to know that those beings are still in the same boat - he asked in a

tone under containing the rate of the breathing of his flight of route. The

wind continued whispering and darkened its words. As it lowered through

clouds, it still very far saw the enormous Fleet below him, but covering

waters, these called islands the Pups that were rich banks from fishing to the

East. As they went away approaching they suddenly heard an explosion of shouts

coming from the boats and of the canoes at the same time that draconnay had

heard the shouts of their own sentries and all they went to the arms. Trolwen

folded its wings and it stopped. After him in a side of the Clan thousands

swarm shouted three lannacha male. As it descended was watching and looking

for. Where it will be this double terrestrial monster? There. The

all-consuming vision of an animal in flight, made see three horrible forms in

one of the covers of the boat that signaled to them and jumped. Trolwen,

extended its wings. - Soon, here - it shouted. The swarms put themselves in

battle formation, they took shelter and they were sent in perforated towards

the boat. As they were lowering each one of the young people of the square

chose one of the guards, but they were not sent to the attack until Trolwen

fell on the sphere of the defenders. Drasca was forming their own rows at a

frightful speed and with discipline. - By all the ignited demons, if we could

have used a simple swarm - Trolwen- shouted and not a swarm of battle DES pués

of a so long flight. - a simple swarm as soon as it had been able to take

terrestrial the alive ones - Tolk-no said from the same base of the enemies. -

We must pretend that it is not worth the trouble... to fulfill the commitment,

when we retire. - They know very either, very or why we have come - Sight said

to Trolwen -. how they are inflamed in the boat. The troops of Flook had made

a formation of battle and those of Dracca they reached the surface of the

water. A detachment was put around the humans and soon they were put on the

lookout of the attack that arrived to them. The rest flew over to repel the

assault of the enemy. It was a very equal fight on the cover. Both sides were

equipped in the same way: Arms, techniques seemed to be able of much greater

dangers than any other class. Wood swords with small pedernales in the end,

small daggers, tomahawks gave very weak blows and also they stuck with leather

strips. If one of the males were seen very attacked, could fly upwards; it was

not absolutely tried to maintain the rows that had formed, was a free fight

completely. Trolwen did not have a special interest in this phase of the

battle, being very superior in cor number the amount of soldiers that had

brought knew that it could take the boat, if their air groups could be on the

lookout of draska. It thought of a conventional way, much that a battle in the

air was resembled a dance: she was full of you intrigue, was beautiful and

terrible. To coordinate the efforts of a thousand or more of winged soldiers,

reached the highest levels of the art. The spine of such force was the

arqueros. Each one of them took, grasping it with force, an arc in the heels,

it tightened the cord with his hands, and while it maintained his flight, it

took to an arrow of his carcaj with them teeth and it was prepared to shoot,

before having to loosen the flexion of the arc. Such bodies of fight, prepared

from their birth for the fight with the arcs, could easily send a curtain of

axes that nobody never could cross alive. But after to have made make fun of

the whistle of the death with his arrows, they fear that to return backwards

and to take of hands of the porteadores, more arrows to continue the combat.

This era the most vulnerable point of its work; and the rest of the Navy was

dedicated to protect it. Some took to defend stone balls, a other species of

lances with ends very sharpened. The flying arms were the most recent

innovation, observed between the foreign tribes in tropical lands. In this

drask went at the top: their arms had a repetition mechanism, on wood

bayonets. At the same time, the considered military units separately, far

better were organized in the Flook. On the other hand, they stayed in contacts

with the others by means of the calls of a horn, that it integrated to them to

his Navy. Infinitely more flexible the body of the silbadores, went from a

part to another one, of head in head, doing of the Flock an enormous one and

feared organization. The battle was developed throughout, above and down,

while the Sun rose and the clouds separated and the sea took a special

brightness. Trolwen made crack its orders: Hunlu to reinforce the right flank,

Torcha to attack the boat of the admiral, while Syrgen loaded by the a the

opposite one. Once it had done this, sending a terrible shout sent to the

combat he himself, while a group of draska did towards the same place. It

struck very ruthlessly with "tomahawk" to one of them and saw how the wing of

that enemy sank in the waters that undulated there down. Thus they finished

and they had always made it the battles. When the hand-thrown weapons were

finished, others were sent to a con, if no of sides had left, and reduced the

battle to a hand-to-hand. Sometimes, the chaos extended between both sides so

very ruthlessly and so enormous that both sides were disintegrated. But the

Fleet was here, thought Trolwen, with all their arsenals: with more

hand-thrown weapons of which their flying troops, who in addition were

inferior is in number, could have taken with himself. If this fight did not

finish soon... The boat with terrestrial ones on board, had been reached. The

Draka canoes came near to make them back down. One of the canoes burst in the

fire: feared, irresistible boiling oil of the Fleet, left one vasija of

ceramics, the catapults threw masses information that estilaban in flames with

the impact. These were the arms that had annihilated the most frightful troops

of the Flock and they had seized of the coastal cities. Trolwen frunció the

frown with well-known expression and distresses when it saw them. But the

terrestrial ones already were outside the boat, and six powerful porteadores

took to them to each one of them in a special mesh. Changing often of

porteadores, those fardos with the humans inside could be taken to mountains

of the Flock without the smaller risk. The taken boxes of food as quickly as

possible of the place where they were, were less difficult to take. A silbador

let know he success of the expedition to all the soldiers. - Vámonos! The

orders were made feel of mouth of Trolwen, and each one of the soldiers

integrated the swarm to that they belonged. - Huniu and Syrgen, you go in

formation next to the porteadores. Dwarn flies superficially with half of the

swarm; other half that protects the left wing. Guards rear... The profiles in

the morning were still very far from disappearing. Its nightmare had been that

the main body of the Fleet they persecuted to them. A battle while they ran of

return to his homes could remarkably have harmed the Navy. But as soon as they

were in the heat of retirement, the enemy broke away from the enemy with them

and they retired to its covers. - As you predicted, Tolk - it said with voice

calmer Trolwen. - In agreement, Flock head - the Heraldo with its habitual

calm said -, they were not very calm either, and they did not have true

anxiety to mix itself in such fight of retirement. It had moved away much to

them, leaving its boats defenseless. In addition, all of them thought that

your idea was to force such displacement to them. So that they have decided

simply that the terrestrial ones are not worth the trouble so that they risk,

and they put in greater dangers; on the other hand I am sure that constantly

this idea, the terrestrial ones on the other hand have been inculcando it in

them. Let us hope that it is not a correct belief. But anyway, Tolk, you

anticipated east event. Perhaps you had to be the Commander-in-Chief. - Oh,

no. I no. He was the terrestrial fat person who predicted this. Trolwen

laughed. - perhaps Then, commander had to be he. - Perhaps - Tolk said,

pensativamente -. Quiza he wants it.

Chapter 9

The North coast of Lannach ran in ample valleys that extended until the sea of

Achan. There. in those rich and varied forests, and those lateral floods of

grass, had risen these cabins in which habitually they lived the clan on the

Flock. Where Sagna Bay opened its deeper cut on the Earth, there many beings

had met to form formation force. Thus, then, cities that were Ulwen, and more

separated, Mannenach and I of the Carpenters were finished. But their doors

were demolished and their completely burnt ceilings, the Drak'ho canoes were

on the Sagna beaches, patrols military made the rounds by the empty Ulwen and

closely patrolled by the Anch forest watching the foods that had harvested

during the winter sports resort in Brae Dune. Its sunk boats, its assaulted

houses, and their lands of inaccessible hunting and fishing, the Flock retired

towards high earth. On undulated flowing of lava of the Oborch mount or in

them the cold tubes of the Misty mounts there were a few locations where

poorest they had lived. The females, oldest and youngest, could go to those

parts; caverns could be installed tents and be occupied. Looking for all the

resources that could remove from this region from Hark Heath to Ness, and

sometimes passing hunger, the Flock could continue living a little more. But

the heart of Lannach was in the North coast, lands that now occupied the

Drak'honai. Without them the Flock was not nothing, a simple tribe of savages

whipped by the hunger until autumn, when the Time of Births left them to all

without resources. - Everything does not go well - the situation said to

Trolwen including/understanding. It walked by a narrow footpath towards the

city. How it was called, Salmenbrok, that hung of the most rustic crests of

the mountain. Further on, black stone volcánic to, still covered with snow

mantles, and that went back winding towards a crater that hid between its own

steam. The land crujía under their feet, only a little, and Goes Rijn heard a

murmur in the entrails of the planet. This it is not a place for a man of its

age and its condition. It would have to be in house, its armchair that sank,

with a good cigarette and a pretty girl, a good drink and messes calm channels

of Amsterdam to his around. For a moment the Earth memory was so acute that it

could not less than to shake, and to implorar mercy for itself. He was very

hard to have to leave the bones in a land of nightmare, when he had not

thought more than about making bury his body under the spongy land of his

world... Hard and cruel. Yes, and every day the Company had to be falling more

and more deep towards the red one without being able to be he it stops to

watch it. These thoughts made him return to the reality. - You leave clarifies

this a little in my head - it requested. Was more to their taste in

Lannachamael of which there was it been in the speech of the Drak'ho. Here by

chance, the guttural grammar and sounds, re did not differentiate much from

those of their language mother. It already began to speak with more soltura. -

You returned from the emigration and you found the enemy who was hoping to you

- he continued. Trolwen moved the head with pain gesture. - Yes. Itherto was

known by us a vague way only; the regions that belong to them are very to the

south of ours. We knew that been they had forced to leave because his

resources suddenly. - the fish that comprises main of its diet its resources

speaks altered their own habits, changing to them of the Draka waters to

Achan. But not knowing that the Fleet was limited by our region. The long and

straight hair of Rijn moved when answering: - It is like the history of our

world. In the average age on the Earth, when the sardines moved in enormous

banks to other places, for incomprehensible reasons, also changed the history

of the marine regions. The kings fell and the wars were developed on new lands

of fishing. - it has had an enormous importance for us - Trolwen said -. Few

clans in the Sagna region have... have had boats, and have fished their foods

with hook and line. No of those Drakska would do it, although they knew that

they were going to obtain more fishing. But for our tribe this has a less

marked importance. To be more exact we rejoiced, several years ago, when the

fishing appeared in great amount in the sea of Achan. They are fished great

and of very good flavor and their oil and its bones have many applications.

"In those seas we found a the food of our young and for we ourself, and the

job that is hard nonweight on our backs. Our sailors have fought against the

inclemencies of the time, and in some cases against the weakness of the boats,

but we have taken upon maturity many duties with the greater illusion, because

he was in good of ours. The songs of our names in the hard days have become

today sadness, when thinking about that our children can, as he is beginning

to happen, lack necessary foods tomorrow. "But such occasion is not

appropriate as to cheer to us, as if... or, as if the great Gods had doubled

in one night our young to us. Their fingers convulsively closed around the

grip of his "tomahawks". After all, he was very young. - Now I see that the

Gods sent foods to us with rage and disdain; then the Fleet followed the plans

of which we had to use like feeding. They go Rijn, stopped the speech shouting

in such a way that it drowned the rumors of distant lava for a moment. -

Horns! Hold! You do not pronounce yourself like a man without head, please...

ah! If the fish you do not bring it in great amount, why you do not leave

Flook them can sail on waters of Chan? He knew, that this was not a true

question, was only a stimulus. Trolwen, deliberated with same himself during

moments and to the aim it pronounced itself with explosive obscenidades before

gives to respond. - they attacked to Us at the moment at which we returned

from our houses during the spring. They were oc upado our coastal lines

already, and although they had not done, you had allowed it you who a horde of

foreigners... whose customs are completely strange... You would leave them

lived in the quicio of your doors? How much could last such agreement? They go

Rijn agreed again. - You only suppose that a nation with a government of

tyranny and his dirty and little cultured people went to request on your

fields that needed all whatever you had. Personally it could be tolerant. In

certain way and some occasions, the Draconay more approached the forms of the

humans who the Lannascha. Its culture was a natural consequence of the

economy: Utensils that did not happen of the neolithic thing, a great boat the

quite powerful thing to take to several families, represented an investment of

enormous capital. It was not possible, in individual way some to determine

them and to gain his life by themselves: they were at the mercy of the State.

In such cases the power always was concentrated into the hands of some

aristocrats and intellectuals; between the Draconay, these classes had been

fused in one. The Lannascha, on the other hand, more typically diomedanos in

the first place, was hunters. They had very few specialized workers of office;

the individuals could survive, using the constructed equipment or tools by

themselves. The low calories of that temperature were sufficient factor so

that the hunting caused that these people scattered themselves all along of

the region, and each small group was independent of the rest. They pronounced

themselves with certain convulsions, during the hunting for example, but they

did not have to be sacrificing day after day until they fell exhausted, like

cough fishing of networks or the men of the forest, or the sailors of cover

that they had to work in the Fleet; thus, then, there was no an economic

justification in Lannach for the classes of heads and watchmen. This way, its

natural policy was a small one give that it was transmitted of generation in

generation. Such groups of blood, almost free and independent of the

Government, were lost the organization of the great Flook. And raison d'etre,

aside from some small offices that could do each one in their house, had taken

great increase in all when each one of the diomedanos in Lannach flew towards

the South in winter. Or it returned for the war! - He is interesting - it

murmured Go average Rijn in English -, between our people as in most of

planets single agriculture acquires civilization. There they did not construct

farms: You hunt, take fruits, you take grains, and until a little fish. But

some of you knows to write and writes books. I already see also that you have

machines, houses and dressed facts in weaves. The contact could be the

stimulus that you have every year with foreign people in the tropical which

gives ideas you. - What? - Trolwen asked vaguely. - Nothing, was asking to me

same me why and since the life is quite easy here and since you have time for

formaros and construiros a civilization, you do not make to obtain enough,

eaten. You eat everything what you have, and you demolish whichever trees has

in your forests. We this is what we called a fruitful civilization back in the

Earth, but when it must enough to eat. - Our numbers do not increase the

sufficiently fast thing - Trolwen said -, it does about three hundred years to

a daughter of Flook was educated it for this but it went to other earth. We

lose many people in the emigration, you know? By storms, by exhaust, disease,

Barbarian attacks, wild animals and some times by the cold or the hunger... -

then it made give a humming to its wings that was equivalent to a shoulder

shrinking. - Aja! A natural selection. All this is and is good very well if

the nature does not force to you to die to survive she, if this would not have

a horrible aspect of tragedy. They go Rijn was pulled its chin. The cheeks

over her had acquired a shining tone. - Therefore, this gives a notion of

which it caused that your race grew in intelligence, to hibernate, to work or

to emigrate. And if you emigrate then to be the sufficiently intelligent and

eloquent thing to be able to fight against all the class of disadvantages that

can be put to you ahead. Then Van Rijn summarized their noisy one to char it

of the following way: - But we must think about our disadvantages, specially

in those to that they talk about same me, and that I am not arranged to

support them much. Hum! Good, now háblame more. I caused that the panic spread

on the cover and that they did not take care of you in that boat, lets to you

escape and I made you come here and this way I released to you. Now you want

to take to your homes and those of your men to low earth. And at the same time

you want desembarazarte of the Fleet. - We fought very well against them -

Trolwen said, with certain rudeza- we can still and we want to do it. There

were reasons to include/understand why we suffered a defeat. We were tired and

hungry when returning after ten days of flight. He is always weak to the aim

of the spring day when one becomes to house. Our stronger possessions had been

occupied. The fire throwers of the Draska had burned all our defenses, and for

us it was impossible to fight against them and he at the moment continues it

being by the water, where it is his true strength. - Their teeth entrechocaron

with a carnivorous reflection -. and we must exceed, we must end to them soon

them. If we do not do it we are lost. And they know it. - I do not

include/understand this still very well - it admitted Go Rijn -, the haste is

in which all your young people have been born at the same time, is not thus? -

Yes. - Trolwen advanced from the place in that was and it was put upon the

walls of Salmenbrok with a full gesture of rage. Like all the locations of

Lannascha, it was fortified against the enemy animals. It had not fenced. This

had not had sense here, where all the high forms that had life had wings. Most

of the buildings was constructed of rudimentary way and form of the old

defenses on land. The ground of the houses did not have doors and had small

windows simply; the entrance became by the part of above or by a species of

hatchway on the ceiling. A fortification was defended by outer walls, but not

interlacing them together with a species of suspension bridges and underground

passages. Here over the line of the forests, the houses were constructed by

stones deprived completely of some relief, and that had been trimmed on the

same place, and this abounded than the common houses more that they were in

the clans of valleys. But this construction solidly was done, and provided

with a comfort degree and that they indicated how they would be the houses of

low earth. They go Rijn dedicated long time in admiring such constructed

characters all in wood. A wood winch that also turned with a mordant end that

were done of a cut diamond species, and a wood mountain range whose teeth were

of renewable volcanic glass. A wind mill common chafaba some of the increases

as wild nuts and grains and also saw other smaller machines and in greater

number to squash foods. Vasija of stone next to a reef with water included its

vision great, and the water could return to leave to make again give returns

to the wind mill when it did not make air. It also saw a pretty railroad,

although of wood and that worked by means of helices and by which small cars

ran on tracks that were constructed also of as hard wood as the iron. These

delivery trucks took to pedernal and other stones that were taken in local

quarries, wood of the forests, fresh fish of the coast, skins and other

articles of low earth and also skilled labor of all the islands. They go Rijn

was enchanted. - That is very well - Commerce said -.! You are fundamentally

capitalist. Ah! Condemnation! I believe that still we will make business.

Trolwen shrank of shoulders. - There is a wind almost always very hard here.

Why we are not going to allow that he is the one that transports our loads? At

the moment all the apparatuses that you see took many years in constructing;

we are not like those draska that all the work has it to do they themselves.

The temporary populación of Salmenbrok was crowded around near the humans with

a murmur and a movement and at the same time entrechocar of wings, while the

pequeñuelos pursued and they twisted between the legs of the humans and their

mothers screamed to them saying to them that they returned. - By thousand

demons! - it shouted Go Rijn -, to have if they are thought that I am a

politician who comes to kiss the belly to them. - It comes this way - Trolwen-

said towards the Temple of the Men. The women and the men cannot follow to us,

they have their own temple. She lead to them throughout another footpath and

saluting reverente to small ídolo that one was in a ballot box. By the aspect

that it had that object had been carved made hundreds of years. The Flook

seemed to rather have only a incoherent politeísmo as far as the religions and

they very seriously did not take this in these days; but they were so strict

in which it concerned the traditional ritual and, as classic they are the

British regiments, whose rituals looked like. They go Rijn it went after him

and it watched the footpath that was back. The women had an aspect here that

remembered much to those of the Fleet: A little smaller and thinner than the

men, their longer wings, but without one raised of wings completely developed.

In fact as far as the racial questions, the two tribes looked like much. And

even so, if all those people of the company had learned of Diomedes, it was

not a pure coincidence, draconay represented a biological monstruosidad. An

impossible one! Trolwen followed peculiar the cautious one of the man and

sighed. - You can realize or in the situation in which they are - she murmured

-. half of our women is waiting for or their next puppy. - Ejem. Already, that

is its problem. Déjeme to see if I include/understand it well. Your young

people are all born in the fall of the equinox. - Yes, within few days; the

exceptions are very few. - But lack so that you must go towards the South, and

surely new born cannot much fly. - Oh, no, he throughout goes stingy to its

mother the way; they have been born with arms able to take hold themselves

very hard. There is no no born of the preceding year; a female that is raising

is not pregnant. Some other son of two years is the sufficiently strong thing

to fly over those distances, give dolé periods of rest in which the pequeñito

raises in the back of somebody. This it is the period of Dap where we suffered

most of the losses. The greater ones of three years only need to be guided and

to be kept: Their wings not yet are very suitable. - But this means many

disadvantages for its mother, is not thus? - It is attended by members of a

clan or of oldest than she has happened already of the childhood, but that is

not the sufficiently old thing to survive so long trip. And the men naturally

are going to the hunting and to explore, the fight and other things. - Thus,

then, you go to the South I have heard say that it is quite easy there living,

the nuts, the fruits and the fish are good for gathering. Why you return? -

This is our house - it said with all Trolwen tranquillity. After a little

while it continued -: and the islands of the tropical could not never get to

supply to the thousands that meet each inv there ierno. At that moment the

emigrants are quick to leave and since they have eaten everything already what

they had in the Earth. - I already realize. Good, we continue. The time of the

solstice is when you fly. -, Yes then desire arrives to us, already you know

what is this. - Naturally - it said Go Rijn. It did not have intention to

explain that human the reconstructivo module was like the one of the Fleet.

Trolwen wanted to imagine to only once Go Rijn shouting and pataleando on the

Earth to the year. Trolwen was free to do it. - and there is festivales and

commerce with the other tribes - lannach sighed -. Already it is worth.

Shortly after the solstice, when we return arriving here shortly before

equinocc io, when the great animals of which we depend, have waked up of their

dream of winter and have fattened a little. You got it the module of our

terrestrial life. - it sounds a little to Me rare, as if he was not too fat

and old - it said Go Rijn, blowing one's nose the nose with noise -. you do

not become old, Trolwen. He is so solitary. You have luck dying in the

emigration when you begin debilitaros, you you do not live more worried and

abandoned than with your dear memories and memories. - Surely, and as they are

developed the events are not very probable that me it makes old - said Trolwen

-. I am seeing arrive the events and I see that it is not time than of

childbirths more. And if one does not have food and shelter and all those

things to point most of the young people will die. It is possible to be

replaced to them - it added Trolwen with an emphasis degree that showed that

after all he was not a winged man simply and with tail. Its tone of voice was

become serious -: But the females that take to them in their sine are of a

much greater importance for our force. A female that finishes being mother,

must rest properly and to eat what never needs or otherwise will reach the

South in the emigration, you include/understand? And fíjate what percentage of

our females is going to be mothers. It is a company this one in which we are

put, of brings it depends you sobreexperience on the nation of the Flok. And

those pigs draska raising all the year like... like fish. No! - Truely, no! -

it said Go Rijn -. Better it will be than we think quickly about something

practical or otherwise I also will pass much hunger. - I spent many lives of

my people for salvarte - Trolwen said -, because all we thought that you would

devise something to help us. - Good, the problem is - it said Go Rijn- in

which we are able to make arrive a message at our people in Thursday Landing,

Then they will come here quickly, and I will say to them that they sweep to

all those that I want entorpeceros. Trolwen smiled. Still in spite of the

cruel form of his mouth, it was a smile without heat and humor. - No, not - it

said -. it is not so easy. I cannot risk to me to send people in a crazy

attempt so that they cross the ocean. No, while the Drak'ho has taken to us

by, farsanta. In addition, and it pardons, how I will know that you to us have

interest some in helping once you feel out of danger? It separated the glance

of the one of his companion, towards the door of the cave that was the Temple

of the Males. The steam left the mouth of the temple. Inside was the mouth of

geiser. - I myself it it could have decided otherwise - it added with rage and

in low voice -. But I do not have more limited powers. Concilio will not allow

that we help you until the war has not finished. They go Rijn it raised the

back and it extended its hands: - Confidentially, Trolwen, boy, in its place

already had done the same.

Chapter 10

Now the light became more tenuous. Soon they would begin to park the lights at

night, as soon as the sun was hidden under the sea and the sky remembered

white small points of colors. The two moons could be seen already after the

sun putting. At the same time which Bodonis left its room, the shining

Sk'huanax beam ía its appearance in the horizon and one slid between many

stars towards the slow and calm Lykaris. Among them, The one that Delay and

The one that It persecutes formed a wonderful double bridge between extensive

waters. Rodonis had been born in the old nobility, and it had been taught to

him to smile to the cult of Moons. Quite good for the common sailors, that

otherwise they had returned to his primitive sacrifices in the depths, but in

fact, a cultured person knew that there was only a Lodestr. Nevertheless,

Rodonis, under cover, was covered to itself with its wings and whispered its

restlessness to the shining Lykaris mother. - a song I dedicate to you, a song

only for you, done by the most exquisite poets of the sung Fleet and in your

honor when soon you in marriage with which It persecutes to you. You will not

become to unite in marriage with for more than a year, the astrologers me said

it; there will be time sufficient to create a new song for you who will last

while they survive the Fleet, oh, Lykaris, and that will only be thus if you

allow me to have with me to my Delp! The Warrier did not go in its plegaria to

Sk'huanax, in the same way that a Drak'ho man had not thought about going to

the Mother. But she said to him to Lykaris with her imagination, that did not

have badly no in remembering to him and putting before its attention the fact

that Delp was a brave being who always had fulfilled the one that before

promised. The moons shone. A cloud bank by the west remembered the tops of

mountains. Much more far the silhouette of an island was descried. It could

hear the noise of the ice towards the north. It was a panorama of the great

and wonderful sea; this one was not the green beloved Southwater where the

hunger directed to the Fleet, and she asked herself if the Gods Achan would

never allow drak'honai to return to their homes. The noise of the waves,

crujir of the trunks of the boat, hissing of the cords and cables that had

subjects to them, the murmur of the wind, the balance, the remote complaint of

one flauta, and the nearest noises coming from the same boat, snores and

lloriqueos of the children and the exhalations of some satisfied pair; all

this was an enormous lightening in this cold called emptiness the sea gives

Achan. It thought about his own children, two small empeletadas and put forms

in a camita rich upholstered, and this gave the force him that needed. It

extended his wings and one went back in the air. From above, the Fleet at

night was not more than the accumulation of shades, with the blinking of small

lights where some crew worked to high times of the night. Most of them already

was laid down, undoing of the difficulties of a hard day of work, handling

useful and cabestrantes and coils, cleaning, salando and straightening the

catched thing, folding and unfolding the heavy cords of the boat, gathering

eatable seaweed and other fruits, others, in mainland, demolishing trees,

giving form and molding the trunks with stone equipment. A member anyone of

those people had little to hope in the life except the brutales and heavy

works. Their moments of distraction were almost so strange and violent as the

work: the dances, the athletic tests more brutales, a constant desire of the

loving questions, and the torn uprooted songs to total lung of its throats

that at the same time ingested enormous amounts of beer made with cereals

coming from the sea. For a moment and while such thoughts crossed by their

imagination, Rodonis felt proud of its tribe. For a great part of noble, a

type of the low class, was a domestic animal, with bad modales, without a

name, almost indecente, that was to have to him to ray by force of whip for

its own good. But flying by encuna of the great sleeping beast of a Fleet,

Rodonis felt a tremor that was removed like a snake over her. These were the

gentlemen of the sea, and the high standards of the Drak'ho were raised on the

vigorous backs of the components of the square. Perhaps, simply it was that

the predecessors of their husband had risen until more cars ranks from the

humblest positions of a boat not many generations ago. It had seen help him

quite often his, working elbow elbow with them in the storm and the fishing.

It had realized of which river was a misfortune to make the works humblest and

at the same time to be able to float a boat for single her. If the work were a

pleasure for the Lodestar, as they said sacred books, then, why the noble of

the Drak'ho considered a thing hateful? There was something of insano in the

old families, something that of course did not denote a true nobility of

feelings. Those feelings had died and replaced by lower others, century after

century. He was known well that the humblest workers were those than more

descendants had, the specialized workers and the employees to complete days

had less, and the officials by inheritance those that less than all. Why

admiral Syranax had not had in his long life, more than a son and two

daughters? It, Rodonis, already had two small ones in four years little of

marriage. It was not a this one evident sample that the Lodestar Stop favored

the honest people, who worked with honest hands? But no, those lannach'honai

had all a new boy every year, like machineries, although many, of the small

ones died in the emigration. And the Lannach'honai did not work; in fact they

did not work; they hunted, they reproduced, and they fished with its encientes

hooks. They were quite vigorous people, but never hours and days like a

Drak'ho sailor were put under a work during. And, naturally, their customs

were truely hateful. Animal! Indiscriminate vigor and that were everything.

For the rest of his life the father of his small one was not more than another

male for her - he does not matter that you know who is he of all ways your

woman that you do not serve for anything, of horrible modales! And in him home

was no modestia between sexes; it had, even more distinction in the customs of

every day, because no longer there were more desires. Uf! And in spite of

everything, those Lannach'honai pigs, speak bloomed, perhaps, to the Lodestar,

did not concern much to them. No, a thought was too cold, here, in the wind at

night, under cenicienta Sklmanax. Surely that the Lodestar had designated to

the Fleet like an instrument to destroy to those Lannach beastly and to seize

of the territories that they had been enjoying. The wings of Rodonis beat with

a little more rapidity. The flag of the boat was a little more, close now, and

the turrets seemed mountain tips at night. There were many lamps ignited on

covered Ja or in the quiet rooms. There were sailors moving interminably from

a part to another one and in all directions. The flag of the admiral still

undulated on the mast, which indicated that this one still lived; but the

death surrounded hour after hour every time to him with more force. Like birds

hungry of carrion, on the lookout, Rodonis with a sigh thought. One of the

sentries whistled to him from his limited pos ición and it approached. The

light of the moon scattered by all sides: - It holds! Who you are? It was

prepared for beforehand so high conminatorio, but suddenly, the language

remained rigid in its mouth. It was not more than a female, and a monster

rugía more stop than she. A gust of wind whipped the dry things that hung of a

post: the wings of some naval officers who now did not have other functions

that to take care of the oars or the rudder, in the case in that they still

came. Rodonis thought about the red outlines that would be reflected in the

back of Delp, and this caused that the rage and the rage mounted in her until

the point to have those to express with a shout. - In this tone to speak to a

Sa Axallon? The guardian did not know his personality between the thousands

Fleet citizens, but he distinguished the own clothes gives the class of

officials. It was an affluent thing known that it had never been allowed that

contiendo to the hardest works during all its life could obstruct the way of

that delicate body that, in addition, comprised of the high sphere. - Póstrate

on the cover, the condemned! - it said with wrath Rodonis -. Tápate the eyes

when you go to me! - I..., my lady - it whispered -. I not... She sent herself

directly towards him. The nonsubject another thing that to make that leave the

way. The voice of Rodonis cracked like a whip: - Considering, naturally, that

the head of the company to whom you belong has obtained my consent so that you

speak to me. - But... but... but... Other soldiers had gone at that moment,

going from a part to another one in the air, disabled to do nothing. Those

laws existed, but nobody had taken them exactly during centuries. An official

on the greater cover, realized situation when Rodonis landed. - My lady - he

said with the due deference is not very advisable for a female without escort

to move away minimum and much less to visit this boat of terror. - It is

necessary - she said to him -. I have a message for T'heonax captain who

cannot hope. - the captain is next to his honorable father. I am afraid that

not... - those Will be your teeth that will start when it knows that Rodonis

Sa Axallon has been able to cause another riot. It crossed the cover and she

inclined on the hut railing as if she was vomiting his rage over the sea. The

official titubeó as if he had not included/understood. But, suddenly, as if he

had received coletazo in the stomach exclaimed: - My lady. Immediately... she

hopes, she hopes here, only a second. Guard! Here the guard! You guard by my

lady. You take care of that it does not need of anything. And it disappeared.

Rodonis hoped. The true test arrived at this moment. Until then there had been

no problem. The Fleet too much was affected; without officials, the ill

sailors, they had refused to a new rise, when she spoke to them of it and was

requested it. The first riot had been very bad. Such horror - a true one

turned around against the Oráculo of the Lodestar- had not been known for more

than one hundred years... and at the same time with the problem of a war among

them. The first impulse had been to deny that any important thing by small

that outside it had happened. A laborious one malentendido. Those in favor of

Delp, arrived and they were given to the fight of a quixotic way at the same

time who gave themselves to a lacking desperate fight of loyalty for their

captain. After all, it was not possible to be hoped of ordinary sailors of the

low class who understood the most modern principles and than the Fleet and its

admiral they could extend to the situations of an individual boat. Suddenly

their tears extended by their face, remembering that Rodonis had been speaking

with Siranax and the conversation that it had had already ago days was

repeated in its memory. - I feel, my lady - créame had said he that I feel it.

One caused his husband, and it had more justice of his part that T'heonax, was

more right. In fact, if which was a simple fight which happened, that had not

been planned, only one opportunity to make jump the spark of old resentments,

and in which, my own son was the one who was going to leave harmed. - Then, it

allows that his son loaded with the responsibility that he had! - she said.

The white head moved balancing itself advanced backwards and implacably. - No.

Perhaps he is not the person most honest and more responsible for his acts in

the world, but he is my son. And the heir. I do not have left long time that

to live, and the time military is not the moment to risk in a battle in the

occasion of the succession. By the salvation of the Fleet, T'heonax must

happen to me without discussion of anybody; and, by this, it must remain at

sight of all like a irreprochable personage of the officiality. - But, why

cannot you leave you also free to Delp? - By the Lodestar, that would do it if

it could! But it is not possible. I can give amnesty to anyone, if... if I

want it. But loading with the faults, somebody must have somebody where it is

healed and where it falls the pain our wounds. Delp must be accused by to have

imagined and to have tried a riot, and must be punished, so that everybody can

say it; "In agreement, we fought, we had fought between us, but all the fault

had he, so now we can trust an a again the others." The admiral sighed, a full

sigh of fatigue that left its affected lungs. - the Lodestar knows Well that

it did not want to do is to. It wanted... Also I love much to you you, and

you, my lady. It wanted that we returned to be friends. - We can - it

whispered if she leaves frees to Delp. The conqueror of the Maion, watched it

surprised and said: - No. And now already I have heard enough. It disappeared

of her presence. The days happened and there it continued the farce of

nightmare of the judgment of Delp and the nightmare of the sentence that

weighed on him, and the nightmare of the delay of his execution. The fast

attack of the Lannacho had been as the moment of waking up of a febrile dream,

because he was acute real and true, and the companion of boat no longer he was

simply a furtive enemy but a sailor who faced the Barbarians in the clouds and

that whipped to those troops doing them to back down and moving away them of

the children. Three nights later, admiral Syranax fell ill of death. If it had

not fallen ill, Delp would be now a mutilated slave, but in this nervous

tension and this uncertainty the things had remained quiet at the moment and

the sentence not yet had been pronounced. As soon as T'heonax had the position

of the admiralty, thought Rodonix about deepest of its brain, no longer would

be more delay. At least that... - It wants, my lady, to come by this way? All

of them were obsequiosos, the officials who guided it throughout the cover and

they introduced it between a great disordered battery of trunks. Crew members

of the house crossed and walked above and down by the runners, corridors and

windows that were illuminated with lamps, and they watched with a species

gives it terror. Of any way the most secret things always were known in that

part of the boat, and they knew them immediately, as if they smelled them. He

was dark, full of things and in silence. In as much silence! The sea never was

quiet. Only at this moment Rodonix realized of which they never had, in all

its life, sense no attraction by the sound of the waves and crujir of the

trunks and the cords of the boats. Their wings were tightened; it had wanted

to explode in a whine. To free itself with a whine. It walked uncomfortably.

They opened the door to him. It entered, and it was closed after her with a

full sound of coldness and apprehension. It saw a small one and furnished

small drawing-room well where many lamps burned. The air was so dense, that it

almost prevented him to breathe. T'heonax lay on a cushion watching it,

playing with one of the knives of terrestrial ones. There was nobody more. -

Siéntese - he said. It shrank on her tail, with interrogating and cold eyes,

although she watched of equal equal to him. - What was what meant? - he with

indifference asked. - Lives the admiral, your father? - she asked. - I am

afraid that it does not have left much - said he -. the God Aeakah'a will eat

to him before the noon. - Their eyes went to where he was his father -. What

releases it is the night! Rodonix hoped. - and well? - he said. Its head was

thrown backwards with a somewhat repulsive movement. There was certain crudity

in his tone -. Said you something about... another riot? Rodonix straightened

up on its feet. It straightened his chest and it said; - Yes - the crew of my

husband talked back with a chilling voice has not forgotten to him. - Perhaps

not - T'heonax- talked back but they have had sufficient loyalty for the

admiral and sa did not separate of him, at the moment. - Loyalty for admiral

Siranax, yes - it said to him but this never lacked. You know it as well as I,

which happened was not a riot... simply a movement of men who were in against

hers, of you. To Siranax they always have admired to you, not to say loved. -

the true riot will be against its assassin. T'heonax gave a jump. - What means

with this? - he shouted -. Who is an assassin? - You - escupió Rodonix between

its teeth you to poisoned its father. It hoped. She hoped during a time that

maintained the breathing in its chest. She could not say if the remarkable

violent man to which he faced would kill it by to have said such words. She

almost did it. She threw herself backwards when its knife came near to the

throat of Rodonix. She tightened with force his cheeks, and jumped on his

cushion and one stayed there at the same time with the bent back, the rigid

tail, and the raised wings. - He continues - it said I gave your lies. I know

very well to what extent you hate to all my family as a result of the husband

without no class of value, that you have. All the Fleet knows it. Think that

they can believe your poisonous words? - Never I hated its father - Rodonix

with somewhat said of nervousness; the death had closely together passed of

her he condemned Delp, yes. I thought, that she was not right to do it, but he

did it by the Fleet, and I... I am of a sector of officials also. You must

remember, that the day after the battle, I requested to you that you had

supper with me to celebrate that draconnay had to march. - Therefore you did -

you whispered T'heonax- a pretty gesture. Now memory how condimentada said the

guests was the food. And the small memory that you to him gave him, that

shining disc that belonged to terrestrial ones. As if it corresponded to you

giving it, all that belongs to the admiralty. - In agreement, but this was the

terrestrial thickness that me gave it me - Rodonix said. It was taking

deliberately the conversation towards excellent lands, looking for that both

calmed -. had taken it of her luggage - said to me -. called a currency to

him, an article of market between her town. She thought that to me I could

like to remember to him to him with that object. This was shortly after

which... the avalanche... and shortly before which he and its companions had

changed of the Gerunis to this other boat. - It was a miserable gift - the

disc said to T'heonax- was quite lacking of forms. It goes! - their muscles

were curved again -. It comes. Acúseme more still if one dares. - I have

anyway not been enough idiot - Rodonix- said I have left written letters, so

that they open my friends to them if I do not return. But we consider the

facts, T'heonax. You are an ambitious male, and one of the people who are

wishing more than happens the worse thing. The death of its father will make

of same you an admiral, the virtual proprietor of the Fleet. How long has had

you to be waiting for this opportunity! His father is dying, whipped by a

disease apparently unknown by our surgeons: Not even a disease due to a poison

known, and so ferocious that it will destroy to him. Now one knows that the

attackers did not take all the food who had terrestrial ones on board; three

small packages remained here. The terrestrial ones warned to us very

frequently and to all that we would not have to eat nor only the smaller part

of its rations, that would be as much as to be indicated with the death. And

you, one has taken care of all the things of terrestrial ones! T'heonax

straightened up. - Lie - it shouted I I do not know... I do not have... I

never... Somebody will be able to say that I... anyone could have made such

thing as... to poison... its own father? - Of you, they will believe

everything to it - right of perpetual ownership by the Lodestar said to

Rodonix -. It! - the Lodestar will not give luck him nor will protect to the

Fleet if they are commanded and to the orders of a parricida. - There will be

riots only by this, T'heonax. It watched it fixedly while the savagery was

reflected in its face. - What is what wants? - he shouted. Rodonix watched to

him with coldest of the glances that never had directed to anybody. - I will

burn those letters - it said and I will shut up myself for always. Even

retractaré of which it has said to me of you, and I will defend to him if to

somebody they have been happened to him such thoughts that to me. But he must

have, from this same moment and for always, a total amnesty. T'heonax relaxed

and it watched it with crudity. - it could not fight against you - you said

podria it to have arrested to speak of so full form of treason and to kill to

whatever it dared to do it. - Perhaps - Rodonix- said but, is worth the

trouble, it could leave the Fleet and leave us at the mercy of the Lannaconay.

Everything what I request is that returns my husband. - and for that reason

threaten you to ruin to the Fleet? - Yes - she said. After moments she

continued: - You do not understand. You them men make the nations and the wars

and the songs and science, all the small things. You imagine that you are the

forts, practical sex. But a woman once returns and another one under the

shades from the death to bring a new life again. You are the duros, we, we

must be it. T'heonax gave the back him, shaking. - Yes - it to the end

whispered yes, the condemned you are. Ridiculous woman, horrible woman, yes,

you can have your husband, right now I will issue an order to you, at this

Moment. It takes its rotten feet and sácalos of my boat before the dawn, you

hear it? But I did not poison my father. Their wings were fought in the full

air of being able, until it rose there until the ceiling of the boat staying

and shouting: - I did not kill it! Rodonix hoped. At that moment it took the

written order and left there, was towards the bridge, where they cut the cords

that they had imprisoned to Delp hyr Qrikan. She narrowed it between his arms

and she cried. - I will conserve my wings... Rodonix Sa Axallon tightened its

crest, spoke to him to the ear, tightened to him with force, spoke all the

things to him, said to him that everything would go now, that returned to

house and cried a little because it loved to him. In his interior it had a

small memory of as the old one They go Rijn had given the currency him, but it

had warned to him against... against what it had said... against poisonous

heavy metals. "For you the iron, the copper and other metals are unknown

objects. I am not a chemistry; chemistries I rent them when chemistry is

necessary to me; but I believe that better it would eat arsenic that not what

it is trying to chew one of your children in these currencies ". And she

remembered, seated in the dark, with a stone in her hand, sharpening the

currency, until there there were necessary spices that she would put I divided

the supper of the admiral. Later, she remembered that the terrestrial one did

not have such masters of its language. Suddenly she thought with a fright that

it, the terrestrial one, could have left this food mortal to intention very

well, with the intention of which she caused misfortunes. But, until point had

gotten he to suppose the events?

Chapter 11

Guntra de Snklan crossed the door. Eric Wace watched. After him one shades

rare between lights, and an accumulation of inexpressive forms. - Yes? - he

said. Guntra showed an armor, two meters in length, a slight construction in

wood forms. For more than ten years it had watched to hundreds of women and

children while they reunited, gathered, separated and dried the fibers that

gathered next to sea; they formed, weaving these fibers, a wood species, they

took it to the factories and they made a set of all of them to form the wished

object. One had never felt so tired. Nevertheless, a small victory was

reflected in its voice when it said: this one is four the thousands

Chancellor. It was not his title, but the mentality of lannacha as soon as it

could imagine to whatever it did not have a rank defined within the

organization of the Flock. Considering the authority of the creatures without

wings, it seemed more natural to call chancellors to them. - Good. - it took

the object of his encallecidas hands -. a good work. Four thousands are but

that nothing; your task is done, Guntra. - Thanks - she watched everything

peculiarly what there was to his around. It was difficult to remember that she

did not do long time had served, mainly. to store food. Angrek of the Trekkans

arrived with a wood block between its claws. - Chancellor - it began - I... -

stopped. Its glance fell on Guntra, that still was in medium age and him they

had considered always beautiful. The eyes of Guntra found his. A rare

brightness ignited in them. Their wings extended and it took a step towards

her. He gave an almost imperceptible jump. Guntra became and flew. Angrek was

watching after her, and soon it threw the wood block by the ground and ran. -

What demons it happens? - Wace said. Angrek occurred a blow with its fist in

the other hand. - Ghost! - he murmured - untiring spirits must be ghost... who

live, always everywhere... are possessors of the Drakska, and who now come to

punish to us. Another pair of bodies darkened the door of the room, that

remained open towards the pale one and cuts night of the summer that began.

NichoIas van Rijn and Tolk, the Heraldo, entered. - How it goes, boy? - it

asked Go Rijn, he was eating a onion that had removed from one of the packages

of the provisions; the pallor that was reflected in the face of Wace, and,

until in the one of Sandra, at the moment was not reflected in Go Rijn. But

then, Wace thought bitterly, until that moment the old one of the chin not yet

had done nothing. Everything what for it was to take a walk and to speak to

the local heads and to complain which the things did not go rather quickly,

all the express that it had wanted. - Slowly, Sir - the youngest man I keep

the words that to taste it had meant well. You crawl like a worm, and delays

to return to house by means of my work and of my brain soon to sell me to

other factories or to leave me in some other condemned planet lost. - Then

haste will be necessary to occur - it said Go Rijn- we cannot wait for as much

time you and I... Tolk watched inquisitively and with a certain expression in

its eyes to Angrek. The specialized worker still was astonished and without

including/understanding what it happened and he whispered for himself

incomprehensible things, to the aim said: - What happens, what is what it does

not go well? -... an influence - Angrek covered the eyes -. Heraldo -

whispered - Guntra of the Enklan was here right now and during a little while

we... were desired the one to the other. Tolk watched with certain gravity but

it spoke without no reproach: That, has happened to him to many, contrólate to

same you. - But, what is that, Heraldo? A disease? A judgment? What have done

I? - Those innaturales impulses are not known - Tolk said -. They arrive at us

and they are pronounced once in a while in each one of us. But naturally, one

does not speak of it, one is surprised and done what better it can to forget

what it happened - soon it added -: Long ago it more often happened enough. I

do not know why. Return to your work and you forget the females. Angrek was

pronounced with a difficult breathing, took the wood piece that had brought,

and it went towards Wace: - his advice Would want; this form does not seem to

me the best one for its intentions. Tolk watched his around. It finished

returning gives a long trip, crossing over a vast land to speak to the tribe

and to see how the works were made. - much work has become here - it said. -

Yes - friend agreed Go Rijn with complacencia- is an engineer with much east

talent mine. But the works in a new planet could much better if you could have

good engineers. - I have not gotten to complete the details of its schemes

very well. - My schemes, my schemes - it corrected Go somewhat proud Rijn I I

said to him that it conducted military operations to us. Everything what has

done has been to do them. - Everything? - Tolk asked, dryly. It watched his

work that was in its beginnings. What is this? - throwing of darts a

repetitive one, a metralleta I to him call. Sight, this part gives returns in

this sense and of this form shots, quite perfect can be obtained. The darts

enter this disc by this belt... of way... and give returns rather quickly. Two

or three in opening and closing at least of eyes. The disc is mounted

perfectly to be able to lay for all directions. Ja is one me idea truely. I

believe that Miller or Of camp, or some other constructed it long ago. But it

is a very hard and very bad object to face him in a battle. - Excellent - it

approved Tolk- and this that there is? - and we took a balista. It is like the

catapults of Draco, or almost better still. This throws great stones to break

a wall or to sink a boat. And here, aja! - They go Rijn took the armor that

Guntra had brought -. This is not an object that stands out much, perhaps, but

that it means enough for us and that it is not as useful as other Machineries.

A sailor, in earth, takes it to the back. - Humm... if, already I see what

harness class can do. This stops the projectiles that come from above, no? But

in the meantime, our sailors will not be able to take it while they fly. -

Thus he is - he exclaimed Go Rijn- unfortunately thus is! This it is the

disadvantage with your diomedanas tribes. How you think that you can fight and

you can wage a true war without nothing else that the forces of the air, eh?

Here, in Salmenbroe, I go inculcando in the head of stupid officials these

ideas and making every day them see that the infantry has a great paper and

that she develops a tremendous importance in these wars. And in addition, that

there is to create true officials to practice to them. But by the entrails of

Judas, there is no time for it! In these few ten days, I must try to do what

it is needed for it, ten years. Tolk agreed almost immediately. Trolwen had

even needed long time and many discussions before putting the idea of a force

combat, whose main body deliberately was restricted to the ground operations.

It was a very strange concept. But the Heraldo only said: - Yes. I see its

reasoning. Those are the points strongest than they will decide who took

Lannach, the fortified cities that dominate all the fields of the region from

which the food arrives to us. And for, to be able to take the cities we needed

to lay our own way. - You think very well - the Earth history approved Go

Rijn-, cost long time to the people to include/understand that a victory

cannot be only reached about the powers of the air. - But still we have the

firearms of loa draska - said Tolk -. Which are the plans about them? My

mission, in the pasts ten days, have been almost completely to persuade to the

border people so that they are united to us. I communicated to them of his

part that we could be faced the firearms, which we would have throwing of

firearms and arms our. Better, perhaps, he had done in saying the truth to

them. He watched his around. The room where they were, turned a rustic

factory, was too full of winged workers so that it could see it everything.

Close, there was a water battery more primitive type, somewhat improvised by

Wace, was serving to sharpen in her arms and tomahawk. Another machine, a

stone to sharpen, was new for him: It at the top gave form of the axes and to

other parts of her, not as good as the types that were made by hand, but

formed of a type to standar. A hammer bordered the most salient parts of the

sharp songs; a circular mountain range cut wood; one that it gave returns by

means of cords, rolled at greater speed of which the human Vista could follow.

All it formed a complex of machinery and work never seen in that earth. But

all it also did able to be put under a fight much more soon of which lannach

could imagine and supplying itself of better armament of the one than until

now they had had and much more amount. - this one Is a thing very well-known -

Tolk- said almost scares a little to me. - This will do that this earth, a new

life - it said Go Rijn, expansive it is not this machine, or this other what

it has changed your history. It is the basic idea that I have introduced:

Production in mass. - But the fire... - We gave their firearms. The sulfide

that they have taken in the Oborch mountains, and are very good liquid oil

wells there where also there are conseguidlo of arsenic. Distillation, this is

another art that the Drako they have had and you do not have. Now we will

construct some Molotov arms constructed by we ourself. The human continued: -

But there is a thing that is truth, friend mine. We do not have time to train

to your soldiers to things to which they are not customary and to these

materials. Soon I will begin to die of hunger, soon your females will be made

heavy and the feeding must begin to meet for them. - it gave a pathetic sigh

although I believe that it will do a long time, long time that I will be dead

when your town begins to have true suffering. - it is not thus - we said Tolk

with an expressive gesture still more has left of half year before the time of

birth, is truth. But we already are debilitated by the hunger, the cold and

the desperation. We have already let carry out ceremonies... - the Condemned

your ceremonies! - he exclaimed Go Rijn -. I have said as it is the city of

Ulwen the one that we must take first, where feels watching arrogant, Dunn

Brsy and where lives all the beasts with horn, if we got to seize of Ulwen, we

will have enough food, and also a point very easy to defend. But no, Trolwen

and Concilio say that we must go back directly towards Matinesaeh, leaving

Ulwen into the hands of our enemies, and soon to return directly to Sajna Bay,

where their boats can attack to us. But, why? - You cannot include/understand

it - she said to Tolk with amiability we we are very different. I myself, if

the life has been developed in the work and this one has been able to conduct

itself and to understand them to it with strange people, I cannot get to

include/understand its attitude. But our life this constituted by the sky of

the year. It is not that we take so to our old Gods in serious as before, but

its rites, the rectitud and the decency of everything, the property... It had

an arrogant aspect within the hidden shade of the ceiling where the wind blew

and it slid over the machineries that speak formed in that dependency. - No, I

do not believe that the ancestral ghosts fly that way during the nights. But I

believe that when I give the welcome to the High Summer, in the great rite of

the Mannenach, since my ancestors have done all since they exist the Flok...

then I maintain I live to the same Flok. They go Rijn extended his hand with

scorn and he directed it towards the barbica that had let grow in its face. It

was not possible to be washed or to shave themselves. And although there was

beloved, the human skin did not tolerate the diomedano Soap. - I will say

porqué to you you have all those rites. First you are enslaved of the

stations, much more that any farmer on the Earth in our old days. Second,

since you can fly so much and leave vues tros homes leaving them empty during

the station of the darks, the rites is the beautiful possession but that you

have. It is the only thing that does not weigh to take it to you too much,

with you to where you want. Perhaps - it is thus - Tolk said -, but the fact

continues. If there is any occasion to praise to the Total Day from the Stone

of the Mannenach, we took advantage of that opportunity. The lives extra that

are lost as a result that more precise strategy cannot be taken to Ja will be

offered in this war with contentment. - If all the war does not cost losing to

us - it exclaimed Go Rijn -, demons and condemnation. My own chaplain in my

house is not excited so much and he does not worry as much, by the things that

are normal. East Porqué poor young type that there is there was on the verge

of committing suicide, because a little because of a servant outside the time

of the servants was excited, eh? - one has not become - Tolk said -, not yet

it has done it. It was towards the store. After a little while, They go Rijn

followed to him. Wace put the point of the discussion with Angrec, verified

the operations otherwise, shouted to one of them Young porteadores that

petroleum volatilized within the warehouses was storing and left. Their feet

were very heavy. He was too much a man to do, organizing, designating,

surpassing and mixing themselves with the disadvantages of the arms. They go

Rijn seemed to think that it was a routine transferring to neolithic hunters

to an era of machinery in a few weeks. The Same one had it to have proven! It

would have to take care of them to it with those beings. It would have to

sweat much of the fat that took above! The nights now were so short, only one

pallor between two red clouds in the horizon, that Wace could not realize

course of the time. It worked almost until becoming weak, it slept a little

and it returned to the work. Some times it was asked if it had felt sometimes

the sensation of the rest and the cleaning, and the good feeding of the

comfort and the tranquillity that experiences when being Mine, in some

occasions. The morning began to blunt by hills of the North, where a full

volcanic line of steam was reflected by all the horizon. The two moons were

falling, each one forming a disc apparently twice greater than the stature of

the terrestrial moon. The Oborch mount being like a great giant in flanks of

mountains and mixing themselves between shades with the pallor of the sky. The

wind arrived cold and sharp as a bar from iron that was used against the face

of Wace. The city of Salmenbroch was descried to the distant spot. It reached

the stairs that had constructed he himself, to be able to raise by her towards

the room that used normally, when Sandra met with him when leaving this one

the tower that served from room her to him. It stopped, taking a hand to her

face. She could not hear what she was saying as a result of the air. Wace

approached her. - Him request excuses to me, my lady, I have not been able to

include/understand what said. - Oh... was not nothing Wace. - Their green eyes

were with those of him, but it saw that their cheeks were red, it only said -:

Good morning. - The same him desire - it showed great ojeras -, I have not

seen him for a long time, my lady. Cómo.está.usted? - I cannot rest - she said

-, I feel very unfortunate. It would not matter to him to talk a little with

me? They left the place where they had been and they went towards ahead

through the weeds that were by the ground. Over them in the walls there were

sentries, but these were only beings, who watched to other impersonal ones

hoping to the enemy from the air. Wace I know directed to Sandra: - What has

been doing? - he asked. - Nothing that is worth the trouble. What I can do? -

It lowered the head and watched her hands -. Treatment to do something but I

do not have means, I am not prepared as you or as They go Rijn. -? - Wace

exclaimed -. This... - it stopped regreting his words -. Good already is

enough with having my present lady. - Why, Freeman? - She ed ***reflx mng with

an amused pleasure half, and nothing burlesque. I never thought that you were

so galante in your words. - Never I have had much opportunity to be it my lady

- it tired and lacking of forces murmured too much to stay in guard. - No? She

watched to him of average side. The wind ruined its hair and undid small curls

of him. It not yet was whipped by the wind and the fatigue, but the bones of

their face became but visible; there was a scar in one of his cheeks and their

dresses were made of a quite rustic form sewn by a tailor who never had seen a

human form before. But of any way dressed this form or to the way of a queen,

it seemed to him to him prettier than ever. Perhaps because she was more

close? Why she had said to him with all franqueza that it was not more than

human meat like he himself? - Not - he between teeth said. - I do not

include/understand - she said. - I request pardon to Him my lady, was thinking

aloud. It is a bad custom. But one does in these worlds outside the human

circle. You see the few men who accompany to him so frequently that they let

mean a company; one separates of them. And naturally we are always lacking of

the more usual ways and customs, so that one must be worth by itself and make

several works, perhaps during whole weeks. But why I am saying all this? I do

not know it. God mine what tired I am! They stopped in a small knoll, on its

feet opened a reef that was cut to tip a hundred of meters until it was going

to finish in the white foam of a river. To the other side of the tube there

were mountains and mountains, while their snows melted to the sun. The wind

arrived again and whipped the face of the human beings. - I already realize.

Yes, the sun leaves for me. - Sandra watched to him with serious eyes and calm

you have had to work very hard during all your life. There has been no time in

you for the pleasures, the fine modales and the culture. He is not thus? - I

have never had a minute of time, my lady - he said -, I was born in a

separated site, to a kilometer of old Docks Triton. Nobody except poorest

would live so near a port of the space, of the traffic, the noises and the

murmur of terrestrial ones; nevertheless one is accustomed until this gets to

comprise of one same one and it is mixed in his bones. Half of my companions

has died or is in the jail, I create; other half is fighting and staying in

works not very specialized, quite dirty and that nobody wants. It does not

feel conmiseración by me. I was very lucky person. I entered of apprentice a

commercial house when it was twelve years old. After two years I could put to

me in contact with people who employed dirty and hard to me, but a work for

same me. This was in a boat of the space, an expedition to Rhiannon. I learned

by my same a little for the difficult moments, and I perfected myself in the

rest of the things that I already believed to know, and then I got to reach a

rested better work and more. And thus continuously and continuously, until

they put me to the position of this work outside the Earth, a work that can in

its time to be beneficial but that until it it has not been now much. But

always a scale, thus, then, I am here in the top of a mountain, with all the

diomedanos down, and who knows what it will happen soon. It moved the head

with certain violence asking itself why everything what it had locked up

during long time had said at this moment it. Being he so tired and

debilitated, it was like a borrachera. But this was not something there

more... no, he was not looking for conmiseración... nor treated either of

which it could get to include/understand. But and if she managed to

include/understand to him? - You will return to the Earth - she said calmly

you you are of the class of men who always survive. - Such time. - He is

something heroic, which you have done already. - It separated the Vista of

him, towards the clouds that moved around the tips of the Oborch -, I am not

sure that it can have something stops you to him. Except same you. - I? It

began to be embarrassed, and wished to speak of other things. Its reddish

beard began to be pulled. - Yes, what another one could? You have arrived so

far and so quickly. But why one does not stop? Soon? Perhaps here in this

mountain, you do not have to ask yourself itself to what extent she is worth

the trouble to go far in the life. - I do not know it. I believe that she is

due to go as far as it is possible. - Why, he is that it is so necessary to

become something great? He is not enough free being? With your talent and its

experience you can make much money, in many planets where the men remain more

in their houses than here. Like Hermes for example. In this rich and powerful

fight to be, he is not mainly that you want to feed and to give shelter to the

small boy who once shouted by hunger and dream back in Docks Triton. But to

that small boy you never will be able darte comfort, friend mine, long ago who

died. - Good... I do not know it... I believe that a day I will have a family.

I want to give to my wife something more than a normal life; I want to leave

to my children and my grandsons with enough possibilities so that they

continue in the life, so that they can stay in the world and separate of him

if they want it. - Yes. Thus it is. I believe that thus it is... It saw before

it separated her glance of him, how the blood had raised until its cheeks. -

Perhaps the old Dukes of Kermes were thus. He would be something extraordinary

if we had everything again a group of men like them. He would be something

began to walk downwards quickly. Good already wonderful for having men Better

thus - suddenly she said -. he is than we return, no? He followed it, little

concentrated in the land that was being above.

Chapter 12

When lannascha was quick for the fight, they were called to Salmenbrok by the

Silbadores de Tolk, until the sky was darkened with its wings. Then Trolwen

laid way through a swarm of soldiers until Go Rijn. - Surely which the Gods

are hastiados of us - it said bitterly almost always, in this time of the year

there are forts winds of the Then South indicated towards the skies that

remained immutable. You know some injurio, some method to make raise although

it is only small air blowings. The merchant watched somewhat hastiado. He was

seated in a table that they had constructed in a species of cabin that they

had built to the other end of the city, since he refused to raise stairs or to

sleep in a humid bed, discussing with the captain of the Syrgen Body by a

precious stone subject that was means of local change. - Good - he exclaimed -

and why have you who to extend its tail...? ah, seven! No, by all the demons,

memory, seven is not a good number here. Good we will prove again. The three

dices with which it speculated on the precious stone subject with Syrgen

captain moved again enters their hands and went to the other side of the

table. - Hum, hum, seven again. - It returned to take the dices and it

exclaimed -: Us we played double or nothing? - the tragadores of ghosts take

it! - Syrgen rose - you are been gaining too much often my to seem. They go

Rijn one rose wrath plenty and it exclaimed: - By all the furies or

retirements, that or... - I did not say anything that could herirte - Syrgen

said to him coldly. - But the significant thing. You have insulted to me, to

me. - Already it is worth - interposed Trolwen -. What is what they think that

is this, a celebration? A room of game? Terrestrial, all the forces of fight

of Lannach are concentrated now in these hills. We cannot feed to them here

during long time. And in addition, with the new arms that take in the cars

battle we cannot move until there is not a wind of the South. What we can do?

They go Rijn watched Syrgen. - I said that it insulted to me. And I do not

have imaginac very quick ion when she has insulted herself to me. - I am sure

that the captain will excuse itself by any offense that has said to him with

lack of intention - Trolwen said drilling to them with the glance. - Truely -

Syrgen said -. it spoke between teeth. - Therefore I like - she said Go Rijn,

being pulled the beard -. and soon to prove that you do not put in doubt my

honesty, we will throw the dices once again, is not thus? Double or nothing.

Syrgen took the dices and it threw them on the table. - Ah, six has - it said

Go Rijn- is not very easy to overcome this distance. I believe that there am

lost again. He is not very simple to be a poor tired man, moved away of its

earth and its Siamese cats that are everything what it has left to love in the

world, aside from the money. ... eight! Two, three and three! Either, or, or!

- I said that already it is worth - Trolwen said, not letting itself take

badly by humor by very little. The new arms are too heavy for our porteadores.

They must go by the route. Without wind, how we will be able to transport them

until Sarnabay? - Very simple - it said Go Rijn counting the stones until we

have a favorable wind, ties cords to the cars and that push all the young

soldiers. Syrgen exploded: - a male pertaining to the free class pushed a car

as... as a chrakal - he controlled itself and he continued -: That has not

become, never. There is much work that to do. Our Mays it forces is in the

city. Now that we must destroy all the doors and remove from the city to the

enemy house by house and from room by room. You will remain here. - I no! Wace

made a sign with the thumb to Angrek. - a square Designates to take to the

lady towards the covered carts - it said in all conminativo. - Not - Sandra

shouted. - It is too much late - Wace- said already had calculated this before

we had left Salmenbrok. It dedicated to him of ours, but finally with more

calm she inclined and she murmured in low voice to the wind and the murmur of

the battle. - He returns safe, friend mine. It lead to the soldiers towards

the tower. Soon no longer it had a more exact memory of the fight. It was an

operation of much blood, axe and knife, to fists and tooth, with the wings and

the tail, in the narrow tunnels and the rooms like caverns. It received blows

and also it gave them. Once during several minutes, it lay unconscious and

also in another occasion triunfal it spearhead towards a great ample room

where was an immense group of enemies who beat. , it did not take arms nor it

had wings, but he was the more heavy that any diomedano, and their blows

rarely had to repeat themselves.

Chapter 13

Lannascha took enough Mamenach because they habíanse trained to become good

earth fighters, or to at least have a concept of the battle with immobilized

wings. The idea was like revolutionizing the different diomedanos to only

fight with the teeth, the bandaged hands. Without being prepared for it,

draconay ran as rats towards the tunnels in look for gives open sky. A few

hours later, destroyed by the fatigue, Wace it raised towards one of the tile

roofs the other end of the city. Tolk, seated there hoping to him. - I

create... that... we have finished yet - the human said. - But not yet he is

enough - Tolk with certain bitterness said watches the bay. Wace watched and

saw the dig in that appeared before him. No longer there were boats, no longer

there were wharf, no longer there were walls in the water containment;

everything had been reduced to immense humareda black. But the boats and the

canoes of the Drako had put in the channels, having formed a bridge to reach

the Earth; and over these sailors they were trying of! to reconstruct the

catapults and the throwing ones of arms. - They have a too good commander -

Tolk said -, he has welcomed the idea too much soon, that our methods also

have their weaknesses. - What is... what is going... to make Delp? - Wace

said. - Delay and you will see - heraldo suggested -. there is no way of which

we pruned to do nothing. Draconnay was superior still in the air. Watching

above towards the sky, rain clouds that took with himself bloody water, Wace

saw them move to surround the air of Lannacha. - You see? - Tolk said -, it is

truth that their flying troops cannot do much against our infantry, but the

enemy head has realized of which the conversion also is truth. Trolwen was

tactical a too good one to let itself surprise by such things. Fighting

centimeter to centimeter their flying troops backed down. In the Earth covered

by the constant bombing of the arqueros of the boats, the sailors were

locating their mobile artillery. They had them more lannascha, and were better

gunners. A few loads of infantry exploded a blood ruin. - They do not have

ours would assemble of artillery, naturally - Tolk said -, but this way we do

not have enough men to be able to compensate the difference. Wace watched

Angrek that had met with them. - you do not remain there - it shouted -. It

down sees and c onduce our tribe. We must catch those condemned, we can do it,

you I say I to it. - Theoretically, yes - Tolk agreed inclining the head I can

see where a person on the Earth, taking advantage can lay way through those

catapults and of those throwing arms of flames, and the soldiers who handle

tomahawk. But, actually good, we do not have such possibilities. - Then. What

you would do? - Wace whispered. - We consider first what possibly it will

happen - said Tolk -. There are lost our covered carts, if they do not capture

them will set afire them immediately. Thus, then, our reserves are exhausted.

Our forces we have been separated in two, and have thrown of here our flying

patrols, does not have left much. Trolwen cannot meet again with us, since it

is in a number much more under men. But we cannot face its artillery. -

Nevertheless - it continued -, if we continue fighting, we must throw all our

armors and new arms and return to the conventional tactics of the air. But

this infantry well is not equipped for a normal action. We have few arqueros

for example. Delp only needs to lodge itself in the boats behind the firearms,

but its number of men is greater and we will be incapable to touch to him.

Meanwhile it will have to us surrounded here, separated of foods and material.

We will be besieged. All these excesses of food military have been in

Salmembroc and there they do not have any utility. And in addition, greater

reinforcements will possibly arrive from the Fleet. - To the demon with that -

exclaimed Wace- we have the city, is not thus? We can have it and stay in her

against them until we rot. - and what we will eat while they are rotting -

Tolk said -. You are a good man of the terrestrial space, but not a student of

the war. The cold fact is that, Delp fixed them to separate our forces, to

divide them in two or more, and then it will have won. I propose that we

divide our losses now retiring to us, while we can still do it. And then

suddenly their modales were interrupted, it stopped and it covered the eyes

with the wings. Then Wace realized of which heraldo had become old.

Chapter 14

Was dance on the cover, and full songs of joy that extended throughout

Sarnabay by unfolded hills. It arrives and down and everything around, inside

and outside, the feet and the wings made shake the logs of the boat. It

arrives, on one of the masts, a tañedor of flauta made leave his melodía; down

a great drum of the great seas that made see La Paz the rowers, or made hear a

full rate of zumbantes echoes. In a ring of bodies of folded wings, sweat of

bodies and eyes that watched towards the sky, a sailor having narrowed its

female, while a hundred of deep voices made hear the song: A navigation, a

navigation. A navigation towards the sea of the bear, pretty girl, extending

your shining wings as a sun and sails with me. Delp took a walk on the stern

of the boat and watched towards its crew. Rodonix took from the arm its

husband and it tightened it with force. - She wanted - she said. - If? - Some

times... oh, is not nothing... The pair that danced to is of flauta and

another pair approached to also dance in the same place. - Some times it

wanted to be able to be like them. - and to live in the cover of the boat -

Delp said dryly. - Good, no, clear that not... - There is a price in the

dressed apartment, and crew members, and brilliants, and the luxury - Delp

said. Their eyes became pale -, I am on the verge of paying something more for

that reason. Its tail briefly struck the back of its wife, and then it beat

the wings and he rose in the air. A dozen of armed males followed to him. The

same they made the eyes of Rodonix. Under the punished walls of Manenak, the

boats of the Draco lay full of beings, the disorder of the war that had not

cleaned to enjoy almost lasts victory. , a few soldiers only remained alert,

although no of them needed to notice much in case there were an attack. It was

a glory for the sailors of the boat of the Fleet, drunkards and with a woman

in his knees that could come up for the fight and fight if it were necessary

against three of the enemies. Delp, flying through calmed waters, under a high

sky without clouds, was to itself hefting the moral price of such pride

against the practical fact that lannascha fought with, great force, as if ten

demons had put in him. A group of light canoes floated to the distant spot.

Draconnay this time had won, standar of the admiral floated from a engalanado

mast. T'heonax, had come to the urgent rectification of Delp, instead of

making him go to he himself to the main part of the Fleet, which could mean

that T'heonax was prepared to bury old hatred. (Rodonix would not say anything

to him to its husband of which it had happened among them, and he conmino him

not to do it; but it was perfectly obvious that it had forced the pardon of

the heir in certain way). Surely it was much more obvious that the new admiral

had come to throw a look to the captain who did not trust, which had ruined

the things giving the return to the orders that had received although it only

was to gain one more a more important victory. He was not stranger by a field

commander with such prestige to raise the rebellious flag and to try to reach

the Admiralty. Delp, that did not have respect for T'heonax, but a positive

reverence for the position that carried out supported although with certain

bitterness this imputation. It landed on the later part of the bank as it were

prescribed and it waited for until the Horn of the Welcome sounded in the air.

This took more of the necessary thing in arriving. With certain rage, Delp

approached and postró. - Levántate - it said to T'heonax in indifferent tone

-. My greater deferences by your success. Now you would want to conferenciar a

little with me? - Then it gave taps with the leg, in the ground -, please,

hazlo. Delp, watched around towards the faces of the officials, the soldiers

and the crew. - In prevailed with the advisors of more prestige of the admiral

if to him he pleases to him - he said. - Oh? Think that what you must say is

so important? - T'heonax watched a young aristocrat who was near him and did

him a gesture with the oíos. Delp, extended its wings remembered where it was

and agreed. Its neck was so rigid that it hurt to him. - Yes, Sir, therefore I

want it - and it left. - Very well. T'heonax walked with certain soltura

towards its stateroom. He was quite ample for four, but only both men entered

with the young cut of favorites, that extended in the ground and closed loa

eyes with a respect gesture. - does not love advice the admiral? - Delp asked.

T'heonax smiled. - Thus, then, you do not try to give your own advice him,

captain. Delp, counted mentally up to twenty, tightened the teeth with all its

force and soon it said: - As he loves the admiral. I have been thinking about

our own strategy, in our basic strategy, and the battle almost has scared to

me here. - Admiral, I... does not matter. Sir watches here. - he did not know

that you were afraid. the enemy arrived here and was on the verge of beating

to us. They occupied the city. We have captured arms of which the enemy

brought equal or perhaps superior to ours including some others that never I

have seen or I heard about them, and in addition in incredible amounts,

considering on the other hand the short period of time that needed to

construct them. Then also, they had these abominable tactics, in which to the

earth fight she talks about, not like an incidental thing, like when we took

the enemy boats, but like the main part of its effort. - the single reason

that there is so that they lost, it was the insufficient coordination between

the Earth and the air, and the insufficient flexibility. They must have been

quick to get rid of their then armors and to send itself to the air in an

equipment of perfect swarms taking care of a simple order. - I do not believe

that they two take care of this error if we give another opportunity them.

T'heonax rubbed its nails against its arm and it watched them with certain

attention. - I do not like the pessimists - she said. - Admiral I am only

trying to misestimate to them. It is very clear that they obtained all these

new ideas of terrestrial ones. What other things can get to know terrestrial

ones? And to what extent they will be able to teach to them? - Hum. Yes. -

T'heonax raised the head. A little while of uncertainty and restlessness it

was reflected in his glance. - It is truth. What you propose? - Now at this

moment they are outside account - Delp with certain avidity said I am sure

that the moment in which have been has demoralized they. And naturally they

are lost all the heavy equipment. If we beat to them hard now we could finish

the war. What we must do is to infringe a decisive defeat to them to the total

Navy. Then they will have to leave, to leave, and to say that the nation us,

she is ours, or to die like insects when the time arrives from the birth. -

Yes. - T'heonax smiled of a way placentero- like insects. Like dirty, like

filthy insects, we will not let to them emigrate, captain. - They deserve this

luck - Delp protested. - This is a question that there is to study much,

captain, so that I can decide it and take a concrete determination. - I...

feel it, Sir - after a little while, she added -: but she will love the

admiral, if she is thus, to assign the total group of our forces of fight to

some excellent official, with sharp orders gives to pursue laconnay? - You do

not know exactly where are they? - They could be almost anywhere of high

earth, Sir. Thus it is, and this way we have some prisoners, who we can cause

that they guide to us and give some information us. The spies say that the

headquarters are in a called place, hum, Psalmenbrox, but naturally they can

mix themselves in those earth. - Delp moved anxious. For him, whose world had

been only the Islands and the level horizon, they had certain horror to

escabrosas mountains, were in those infinite mountains places where to be able

to find, this one would not be a easy campaign. - and how you set out to carry

out all this? - T'heonax with certain malhumor asked. It did not like that it

remembered to him at the end of to have freed a victory and to have had a good

supper, that there was much death in front of him. - Forcing to be to them

with us in a sure site gentleman, without mountains and to open sky. I want to

take to the our most powerful main forces of fight, and some native guides who

venerate to help us to go of city in city in those latitudes, wearing down

systematically whatever appears to our step, burning the forests and llev I

walk to end the war of this form. Not giving opportunity them to subsist in

sites on which they depend to feed their females and their children. More soon

or later, and probably more soon, they will have to take each I lard and to

come to face us. Then he will be when we will destroy to them. - Already I see

- T'heonax agreed. And soon, with a certain face it added -: and if they

destroy you? - they will not do it. - it is written that the Lodestar shines,

but not simply for a nation. - the admiral knows that there is always some

risk in the war. But I am convinced that there is always some risk in the war.

But I am convinced that there is less danger in my plan that to remain here

hoping that the terrestrial ones put in improvement some new possessed method

to destroy to us. The forefinger of T'heonax went towards Delp. - Aja! You

have forgotten that soon its food will be finished. We can have, to

terrestrial ones, like something discounted. - I ask myself... - Tranquilízate

- T'heonax shouted. After a little while it continued -: you do not forget

that this enormous expeditionary force, that you try llevarte, would leave the

Flet defenseless. And without the Flet, the boats, and until even us other

same ones, we are exhausted. - Oh, you do not fear the attack, gentleman -

Delp with a warm voice began. - To fear? - T'heonax made a gesture of

displeasure -. Captain is a treason to think that the admiral is... is not the

sufficiently competent thing. - I did not mean... - I will not very consider

east subject - T'heonax with certain calm said nevertheless you could very or

inclinarte before me, implorando pardon, or to leave my presence. Delp

straightened up. Their lips tightened the one against the other, and the

memory of all those that rage succumbed in the fight caused that the tears

were tightened in their throat. T'heonax before the glance and the prestancia

of Delp shrank, and it was lent to request aid. Very slowly, Delp controlled

itself. It made action march. Suddenly one stopped. The tight fists and the

membranes of its wings with a blood sweat. Like a machine badly conceived,

Delp fell. - and well? - T'heonax smiled suddenly on the belly. - No. - I

incline - she murmured - I will eat what you do not want. I declare that my

parents were the slaves of your parents. Like a fish that is not worth

anything, suplico your pardon. T'heonax envaneció. The fact that Delp had been

so intelligently catched between its request and its desire to serve the Flet,

did everything more candy. - Very well, captain - the admiral said when the

ceremony had concluded alégrate of which I have not caused who this happened

publicly. Now hazme to know your disposition, which you try. I believe that

you were saying something about a protection of our boats. - Yes... yes, Sir.

He was saying... that the boats do not have why to fear the enemy. - Really?

Truely, they lie very well in the sea, but not too much far to be able to

reach them in few hours. What has can be defended of the Navy of the Flok,

that is not known you, in the mountains, and that if they attacked to us you

could not come in our defense before the attack had concluded? - it only

wanted that that happened thus, Sir. - Delp recovered a little enthusiasm -,

but I am afraid that the one that leads to us in the fight is not stupid.

Since when... I mean... at no moment in naval history, Sir, has been a flying

form, that has not leaned in the water troops and that have not been, able to

safeguard at the same time to the boat. I spread more and being very

expensive, for them, they have been able to capture one or two temporarily

boats..., like in the skirmish that was when the robbery of terrestrial ones.

Soon the other vessels moved and then they moved away. Sees it, Sir? The

flying troops can make use of the heavy arms military: Throwing catapults and

of fire, and other arms, that by single himself can reduce to a naval

organization. Where it wants that the crew of the boats can remain under the

shelters of the fire that arrives from above, there also there will be flying

forces to exile, them. - Naturally - all this agreed T'heonax- is so obvious

because I am wasting my time. But my idea is, I I realize, that a small group

of guards would be sufficient to support to an attack lannacho of any class. -

and if we have luck to maintain to enem igo outside the sea until I arrive

with our main forceses. But as he says, Sir, they must of being the

sufficiently intelligent thing not to try it. - That is to commit itself much,

captain - T'heonax- murmured means, tries, does not try, not indeed that I let

to you go to the mountains, but that put you to the control of them. Delp

inclined its head and dropped its wings. - I request my excuses, Sir. - I

create yes..., I believe that it would be better than you were here in Manenak

with the flotilla that corresponds to you. - As it loves my admiral. Despite

it wants to consider my plan? - That Acak'ha eats to you! - espetó T'heonax- I

do not feel any love by you, Delp, as you know; but your scheme is good and

you are the best one to carry out it. I will consider it. Delp straightened up

as if it had received a blow in the back. - Salt - T'heonax- said we will have

an official conference later. - I thank for my admiral. - Salt, I have said!

When Delp had left, T'heonax became towards its favorite. - you so do not have

the worried air - it said I know what you are thinking. That type will gain

its campaign, and every time will get to be more popular, and little by little

it will be taking ínfulas to seize of the Admiralty. - to Only it was asking

me how one will fix them, my gentleman to prepare itself against this - the

cortesano said. - Quite easy - T'heonax- said I know that type. While the war

continues, there is no danger of rebellion on the part of him, no asi, then,

déjale that is understood them with lannaconay as it wishes. It will persecute

to those people, until being sure that the work has finished. And in that

persecution..

Chapter 15

The atmosphere took with himself compact particles that were the water nuclei

of condensation to a superior height and at the same time would go more. Thus,

then, Diomedes had more clouds and more frequent precipitations of all the

classes that the Earth. In one night clear few stars were seen; in one night

with fog no was seen absolutely. Moss extended through stones until the young

Stop Summer arrived to dry them with its light. The hordes that lay around

Salmenbrok murmured of their hunger and desperation; until the same sun one

retired of them. No fire of camping was seen, the wood of this region had

burned it. And all the bordering earth that extended around, city had been

devastated the grains that in other times had been very fecund, and until such

worms and insects the soldiers had eaten them. Now in one the wind narrows

dark area only and the waters glaciers had existence. Trolwen and Tolk

continued with the fatigue and the desperation that had brought them the fight

and was directed by the close places in where the fog made its appearance; the

discharges and narrow houses that appeared like unreal, towards the barn where

the terrestrial ones worked. Here only it seemed to have something of

existence. Still ignited fires were seen, water contained in containers and

that fell of them to make move the left wheels of the wind, the movement of

the hammers and the chisporroteo of the equipment at the same time that made

fun of all the devices in the interior. Of some way, without knowing like,

Nicholas Van Rijn one had fixed them to silence the protests of the side of

Angrek, and all the factory was working "Working, why", Trolwen with cloudy

reflections thought. The same one goes Rijn left to receive to them to the

door. It crossed his powerful arms over his chest and said: - How it goes,

friends mine? Here everything goes well, soon we will have many prepared

pieces of artillery. - and why they will serve to us? - Trolwen said -, ah,

yes, we will have enough work to make an amount infinite of holes in

Salmenbroc. What means that we will be able to make all those holes of that I

speak and meanwhile leaving the enemy that way who surrounds to us and dying

of hunger. - you do not speak me to die of hunger - it said Go Rijn -.

Suddenly it put its hand in a stock market that took hung and removed a dry

piece from cheese, and watched it with ashamed eyes and to think that not long

ago time this was rich and delicious a Swiss, Now would not offer it nor to

the rats. - it put It in its mouth and it chewed with noise my problem to fill

my stomach is worse than yours. In the first place the high boiling point of

the water here repres enta in this world a great problem for the boiled

questions of, and also for the bad cooks who do not have nor idea of the

control of the temperatures. Secondly they hoisted and they took trav és to me

of the air, during that full passage of risks for me from Mannenach. In order

to let to me die here of hunger? - Almost to prefer it haberte lazy there -

Trolwen said. - Not - Tolk said -, he and their friends have worked hard,

doing what they could, head of the Flok. - Excuse - Trolwen with great

contrition said was only... has said to me... that drakska finishes destroying

Eiseldrae. - an empty city, no? - a city santa. And they burned the forests

that surrounded it. Trolwen shrank of shoulders. - This cannot continue thus.

Pr onto if this continues in these circumstances although we have won the war,

does not matter in how, the Earth will be too desolate for we can maintain. -

I create, that still you will be able to save a few forests - this said Go

Rijn- is not an over-populated region. - Sight here - Trolwen- exclaimed I

have been born more or less at the same time that you. I admit that

essentially you are right: The fact to dedicate all our power to free a

decisive battle against a complete mass of enemies is to precipitate our final

destruction. But you have been based here not doing anything, but a few

attacks of guerrillas, in the exteriors of our fortifications, while they

destroy our nation, are as much as being constructing our own tomb. - We

needed time - it said Go Rijn- time to modify the pieces of greater

importance, and to replace what we lost in Mannenach. - Why? They are not

possible to be taken, if it is not dragging them. And that denaturing of Delp

are broken all the tracks by where we lead them. - Oh, yes, can be taken. My

young Wace friend, has returned to plan a new system, has found the means of

which with the aid of the women and the small ones, each one of them takes a

piece or two at the most of the small ones. This way we will be able to

constitute on the land a heavy battery of arms, it right of perpetual

ownership! - I already know it. You have already explained us all this before.

I repeat: Against what we will use them. If we went beforehand against any

part indicated in possession of lannascha, they do not need more than to

separate and to flee of that place. And on the other hand we will not be able

to remain during long time in any place, because our members do not have of

what eating. Trolwen sighed. - Anyway I did not come here to discuss,

terrestrial. I came from General Concilio of Lannach for decirte that the food

in Salmenbrok has finished; and also the patience of the Navy is finishing. We

must leave and fight. - Therefore we will do it! - it shouted Go Rijn -. See,

I with you I will speak to those left without a leader advisors. Without

wanting a blow in the head with the door occurred. - Wace, boy, more bond than

you begin to pack all whatever we have. Soon we are going to transport it. -

Already I heard it - the youngest man said. - Good. You you unite, here, and I

will carry out the political subjects, and thus everything will go well, is

not thus? - They go Rijn rubbed the hands and soon it remained watching at

Trolwen and Tolk. Soon the three began to leave. Wace remained watching, and

seeing to him how it disappeared between the fog wall. - Yes - it said thus is

since it has been always. We worked and he speaks, Much equality! - What you

mean? - the head of the table said to Sandra raising in which it was seated

marking parts of the revolver with a small striker pin. A great number of

women was working to their side. - What I said. What I ask myself is why I do

not say it in its face. I am not scared of that parasite gordinflón, and no

longer I hold but all its trivialities and their presence. - Wace gave a

general look to the place where they were and to the confusion that reigned in

him you do this, you do that, he says, and soon he takes a walk again. When I

think that it is eating the food that would maintain you to him you live... -

But he is that you do not understand it? She watched to him during a little

while. - No. I create rather that you been too much have occupied this time

throughout here, to stop itself to think. And before this, you were a man of

small works without to have gotten to acquire the art of the government, is

not thus? - What means? - it was the echo of Wace. He watched it with eyes

tired, but shining and at the same time interrogating. - Perhaps later. Now we

must hurry. Soon we will leave this city, and everything must be quick for our

march. This time it had found a place for her hands, to be able to do

something in the ten or fifteen days terrestrial that took in Mannenach. They

go Rijn had requested that all the things - even the materials in excess

military, that luckyly do not speak taken with them in the first battle were

taken by air. This required a certain amount of modifications so that the

great wood pieces could be cut in smaller units to be able to unite them an a

others if it were necessary. Wace was the one who had fixed all this. But all

it would finish in a final chaos of the trip unless it were, a system later to

be able to identify each one of the parts. Sandra had been in charge to make

marks in the different pieces and now it was painting them, thus to be able to

recognize later them at the moment of the assembly during the battle. Neither

she nor Wace speak had long time to sleep. They had not stopped nor to ask

themselves why she had to serve the work who were doing. - the old Nich said

atheist about attacking Flet such - it murmured Go Rijn -, it is that he has

become crazy? He is that we could land in the water and perhaps reunite our

catapults? - Perhaps Sandra said. - Its voice was calm -. I do not worry much

anyway. Soon everything will have finished because only we have left food for

approximately four weeks terrestrial or perhaps less. - We can last two months

without eating nothing absolutely at least - he said. - But we will be

debilitated much - then it lowered the eyes Yes -. Eric... -? She let his

mountain range circulate and one approached next to her. The weak light

happened through the fog and fell on its hair, made him shine like very small

jewels splashed by he himself. - Soon... nor it will matter what I do... will

be a very hard work, needing forces and certain masters that I perhaps do not

have... makes lack not even fight, when I am not than a simple arquero more,

but a good arquero. The nails of their fingers were white and it made slip on

one of the brushes. - So that when this happens, no longer I will eat more.

You and Nicholas llévenme to the distant spot. - he does not say trivialities

- he with rage said. She straightened herself from her seated position, gave

average return and she watched to him fixedly. Their pale cheeks reddened. -

Are you who not you have to be stupid, Eric Wace - espetó he -. Yes I can to

give them to him and to you although only she is one week extra, when you are

strong, when the hunger that you have not allows you to think with the clarity

that you must do it, then I will be to my same one also to who saves, perhaps.

And if no, I do not have more lost than one or two weeks without importance.

And now it returns to his machine. It watched it at great length, and its

heart was frightened. Soon it agreed and it returned to his work. And more

down the rails than were being opened on places of fresh grass, where Concilio

was seated on one of the songs of reefs, They go Rijn was descried heatedly

before them discussing. Oldest of Lannach, they lay like Phoenix, against a

stone without form and they hoped to him. Trolwen was towards the head that

was formed by one double line, and Tolk remained next to the human. - In the

name absolutely Desire, we have been - the commander said ritually you leave

the SoI and the Moons illuminate our understandings. You leave ghost them of

our grandmothers are our guides. Perhaps it does not shame to me of that they

flew before I, nor of whom they did not fly either behind me. It let save a

sigh. - Good, my officials, are a thing already decided that we cannot remain

here. I have brought to the terrestrial one so that he advises to us. You want

to explain the alternatives to him to him? A man of white hair of oldest of

Lannacha extended his wings and said: - First, head of the Flok, why has had

to come here? - Because the commander Has invited to him - Tolk said quietly.

- I mean Heraldo, we do not make the words difficult. You know what I mean.

The expedition of Mannenach was undertaken because he was he who suggested it.

It has cost to us much more that none of the defeats that we have been able to

suffer in our history. Since then, I have insisted to him so that our main

body remains here, idiot, while the enemy seizes of a defenseless earth. I do

not explain porqué we would have to take its advice. The eyes of Trolwen were

worried. - It is that your words can indicate that there is some other

challenge? - it asked in low voice. An indignation murmur was heard between

all the assistants. - Yes... if... if... to let respond to him, if it can.

They go Rijn was put red as it seeds it and it began to sweat as if the fog

slipped on its face. - the terrestrial one has been defied in Concilio -

perhaps said Trolwen- loves he to talk back? Then one seated hoping like the

others. They go Rijn exploded: - Plague and condemnation! By million, four

million worms boiling in hell! Until when I am going to have to be sunk

between stupid desagradecidos? With how many true politicians you have had

occasion to treat in this universe? - it moved his fist in the air and

shouted: - Hell, Satán and sulfide! This cannot be supported! If you are all

so stupid idiot and of as hot blood as for convertiros in suicidal by you

yourself, why the old poor man Goes Rijn must understand them to it and mix

itself in your own subjects? You jump, condemned protestant! By Boceo, if you

do not let insult to me, I will step on the throats to you! - It advanced like

a mountain shouting to him to all of them. The advisor but next to him

separated. - Terrestrial... Sir... official..., please! - Trolwen whispered.

When it had them to all sufficiently scared, They go Rijn, said coldly: - All

the rights. I you say it, condemnation! I give advice you and you squander

them cursing to me. But I am not more than a patient old poor man, not like

when he was young and strong and full of vigor, no. Now I undergo everything

with continuous a Christian resignation and aconsejándoos. "I already warned

to you and I returned to you to notice, that you did not have to be first in

attacking Mannenach. I already said to you that the boats could come directly

against your walls, that these boats were strongest of the Flet. I fell on

these two poor knees, requesting and implorando with you who you let to me go

to the cities of High Earth, but you did not listen to me. And even so, we

still have Mannenach, but the victory we despised it. Oh, if I had wings like

an angel I you it had been able to lead in person! You have been in the first

plane of the mast of the Admiral at that moment. By mitra of santo Nicholas!

For that reason you take my advice, the condemned! No, now you will take my

orders. No longer you will retire your words, or I will leave, and separate my

hands to you of your works and by my same me I will fix them to return to

house. From now on, if you want to continue living, when They go Rijn signals,

all you you will jump. Included/understood? It made a pause, it could hear its

own asthmatic breathing and the displeased murmur of the people who were in

the fields to the distant spot; to the aim humidity of the water would go that

floated in the air dampened rocks; he was everything what it was left and

everything what could be seen in that world. Finally, Trolwen said with weak

time: - If... if the challenge is considered as an answer... we will fix our

own subjects. Nobody spoke. - Wants to take the word the terrestrial one? -

Tolk asked the aim. Only it had an aspect that he pretended that he could

control itself to itself, at that critical moment at which nobody appreciated

the importance of the act which they carried out. - Ja. I will say that I know

indeed that we cannot remain here during more time. You ask why I retained the

Navy and why I allowed Delp captain who seized of everything and laid his own

way - other primum Goes Rijn made crack their fingers a con to attack to him

directly him is what wants; he knows that that way he could undo to us with

greater advantage, since its force is greater and apparently it is not

disheartened. Secundus, he will not advance until Salmembroc while all we are

here, since we could tend an ambush to him; in addition, remaining here, the

Navy has had opportunity to bet its forces gives artillery. Tertius, which

desire, to lose somewhat of time while I maintain the factory that we have

established arms and that will allow us to do to us with all means of the

victory. - What? - it was almost the bark that left the throat of one of the

Advisors who forgot the formalities. - Ah! - They go Rijn extended its finger

towards its pointed nose and it wrinkled it - already we will see. Perhaps now

you think that, being old, a weak one and tired, that almost inspires mercy

and that to taste would remain in the bed with hot water bags and a good

cigarette well, in spite of that are even a merchant of Liga Polexotécnica to

that cannot be discussed. It is not thus? Good, then, I propose that we leave

this region and we go towards the north. A murmur extended. It waited for

patiently until they calmed down. - Order - Trolwen- shouted order! - a blow

with its tail in the duro gave I am accustomed to calm! you are calm,

official! Terrestrial, you have spoken to leave Lannach which means that our

tribes more still dishearten, we could still reach Swampy Kilnu on time

after... saving to our females and our children in the time of the birth. But

that would be as much as to leave our cities, our fields and our forests,

everything what we have, everything what ancestors belong to those men ours

that will work the Earth during hundreds of years to create, to leave the

darknesses, and to overcome the jungle, and after all, to become anything. I

myself it would prefer to die in battle before to accept such election. It

gave a sigh and it shouted: - But Kilnu is, at least towards South him. To the

north of Axan, still there is ice! - Thus it is - it said Go Rijn. - You want

that we die of hunger and ice creams in glaciers of Dawrmach? We cannot land

much more to the south of Dawrmach; the explorers of the Flet would be

insurances to locate to us in Holmenach anywhere. At least that you want that

we make the last fight in the archipelago...? - Not - it said Go Rijn- we must

direct to us towards some place of Dawrmach. We can pack food and take, at

least, the value of ten days of food with us, as well as the armament... it is

not thus? - Good... yes... but even so, you try to suggest us that we would

have to attack the Fleet, to the boats from the north? That would be an

unexpected direction. But to be it a desperate action. - the surprise is what

we will need for my plan - said Go Rijn- thus is. We cannot say it to it to

the Navy. One of them could be captured in some skirmish and to let know it to

the Draconnay. Perhaps it is better than not even I you say it to you. - it is

already worth! - déjame said to Trolwen- to know what you try. Much more

late... - it will not come out well. Oh, could technically be feasible very

well. But politically it is impossible. - Political - it exclaimed Go Rijn-

what is then, this time? - the soldiers and the women also, even the puppies -

since it will be our complete nation the one that would go to Dawrmach- is

necessary to say to them why we do it. Then, the complete scheme as you admit,

would go to ruin if one of the people fell in you flow them of the enemy and

said what knows, under the torture. - But he does not have porqué to know it -

he said Go Rijn- everything what needs to know is, that we will spend a small

time gathering eaten and wood for our trip. So only we have left to prepare it

everything and to change of place, without saying to us why, or where. - We

are not Draska - Trolwen with certain bitterness said we are a free tribe. I

do not have right to make a decision so important and to put under it vote. -

Hum... Perhaps you could speak to them to them? - it said Go Rijn touching

itself his moustaches -. To throw a speech to them, to persuade speaking to

them to them of the right that they have of knowing and of having that they

must to help. Habíales of which they must seguirte without making questions. -

Not - Tolk- said is a specialist in the arts of the persuasion, terrestrial,

and has gotten to be able to calculate the limits of the arts. We are

understood less with the Flok, now, at the moment it is difficult to be able

to explain the things to them since they are cold, hungry, hopelessly, without

faith in his leaders, quick to leave it everything, or to run directly to a

blind battle. They do not have the prepared moral at the moment to follow

anyone towards a unknown adventure. - But the moral can make to it them

inculcar - it said Go Rijn- I I will try it! - You? - I am not so bad making

speeches, when it is necessary. Déjame that I speak to them. - They... they...

- Tolk watched to him. Soon it was ed ***reflx mng with a sarcastic note in

his laughter. - Déjale that does it, great head of the Flok. Déjanos to know

what, words can find the terrestrial one to speak to them and that can be

better than ours. One hour later, if it seated in a table, with his town

forming a mass of shades under him, and heard the low voice of Go Rijn that

arrived through the fog like a ray: -... I only say, to think what you want

here, and what they will take to you: "This throne of kings, this wonderful

island, this land of Majesty, this Mars armchair, this other edén, paradisíaco

means, this strength constructed by the same nature against the infection and

the hand of the war, this happy race... - I do not get to include/understand

all these words - Tolk whispered. - Cállate - déjame responded to Trolwen- to

hear - it speaks tears in his eyes; it shook. "... This blessed place, this

earth, this royalty, this Lannach. The Navy burst in into beating like of

wings and whines. They go Rijn continued through the adaptations of the

funeral speech of Pericles, "Scots Wháhae" and the Getysburg. At the moment at

which it had finished discussing the day of San Crispín, it could have

requested to be chosen commander if therefore it had wanted it.

Chapter 16

the called island Dawrnach lay much more there of the aim of the archipelago,

to several hundreds of kilometers to the north of Lannach. Nevertheless,

sweetly they flew the Flok, with pauses to rest in sites that some of them

already knew beforehand, and was a question of terrestrial days the power to

arrive there, and a physical nightmare for the humans who were transported.

The memories that Wace could have of this trip were little pleasant. When to

the aim it could still on put in the beach at the end of his trip, his legs as

soon as they could maintain to him and one was not very well. The High Summer

had arrived here also, and although this gave them very towards the north,

nevertheless, the air continued being of winter; and Tolk said that never

nobody had tried to live here. Now the Flok, wings, wings and wings that

lowered from the sky until they darkened it, had arrived at the end of their

trip. Black sands, dark waves that reached glaciers and made inflame the

throat of a volcano. Thick and narrow trees were extended around low slopes.

There were some birds of sea, that went and came from: it gives earth towards

waters; on the other hand the hidden sun threw a weak light towards the

region. Sandra shook. Wace was attracted before the Vista of the thickness

that rose before them. And now that was here, in the last stage of her trip,

she tried not to return to eat. It became involved in a blanket, and she

closely tightened it against his body. The wind blew with force and its hair

floated in the air, contrasting with the color of reefs. To his around they

were seated, they took a walk, ten thousand hungry and winged dragoons moved

incessantly. Whistles and guttural sounds of cruel speeches, entrechocar of

wings, filled the empty air, that blew. While it pathetically closed his eyes

like a boy, Wace saw that the hands of Sandra were bleeding. It felt as its

heart twisted. Nicholas van Rijn arrived first, heavy one there and grasiento,

meant some words to comfort it to him: - Therefore, of all the demons, now we

are in favor here, but soon we will return to our house to take a hot bath.

Blessed San Dimas, as of this moment already I smell the air of our earth as

if it was to three kilometers! Lady Sandra Tamarin, heiress of the great

Ducado de Kermes, dedicated a fantasmal smile to him. - If a little could

rest... - she said. - Ja, ja, already we will see - They go Rijn it put two

fingers in its mouth and made a noise frightful. This attracted the attention

of Trolwen. - You are there! Búscale a cabin or some site where it can put and

take shelter. - I? - I said to Trolwen- I must guard by the Flok. - Already

you heard to me, idiot head - espetó Van Rijn- now hazlo. You are quick to

begin to work - it said going to Wace -. Now reunites á yours, so many as you

need to begin. - I - Wace said lying down towards back watches for I do not

know how many hours that we separated for the last time and... - They go Rijn

escupió - and how many weeks it does that I no I have been able to smoke and

not even to drink a small glass of gin? You do not have consideration tiara

the others. - He is that perhaps I must do it everything? Why have filled to

the Galaxy you that you are there, of things and no of them good? I believe

that already it is sufficient! Wace saw Trolwen that lead to Sandra and took

it towards a place where she could sleep, forgetting the cold, the pain and

the isolation during hours. Then, it struck one of his fists against the palm

of the other hand and said: - Very well! But,;qué you will be doing? - I must

organize many things, condemnation! First I must see Trolwen about a band of

people who destroy trees and make masts and oars. In the meantime, all these

devices that we have brought from there, it is necessary to put them on the

boats: and also we have we organized for the food and the shelter that we

pruned to look for to us. It goes! All this is details. He is not that indeed

what it worries to me. Details, for that I rent to people like you. - It is

that the life is not nothing else that details? - Wace asked. The small eyes

of Go Rijn studied to him during a little while. - Thus he is - said the

merchant give desire to also speak you to you, eh? Perhaps you think thus

because I am old and weak and I do not support to much the hard trips like

this one, like when was young... to perhaps annoys the work you that I entrust

to you, is not thus? Now it is very just a short time to discuss and for

meterte all these things in the head. So he sees you learn it by same you - he

made crack his fingers now and, to yours! Wace left cursing itself to itself

by not to have given to the old pig puñetazo to him in the stomach. But it

would do it when the opportune moment arrived! Now not... Unfortunately Van

Rijn, had arrived at a position where she was to him at that they watched all

lannascha, in who trusted... instead of Wace, that it was the one who made the

work. A paradoxical thought was this, no. Taking the subject from the boat,

for example, They go Rijn had indicated that an island like Dawrnach, was

provided with ice and of glacial, it could give sufficient materials for the

construction. Bevelled stones would give form to bájales, to as great boats as

any boat of the Fleet in few working hours. The most primitive species of

torches, would be used for all the intentions of work, a mast would have to be

planted in holes that would be opened for such intentions: It would be

necessary to count on the water that, once frozen, would be like a fort

cement. The Flok, males, females, old and young would make an enormous force

of work for such projects. If an engineer did not appear in such practical

procedures: To what extent there was to make a deep hole of putting a mast?

The crossbows were necessary? How to be able to make an equal cut in a block

of irregular ice of hundreds of meters of length? How to be able to diminish

the low parts of the boat to make them lighter? The material era, rather, of

little consistency; it was possible to be fortified adding to him a product

mixture to him considerably certain unknown until then by the humans and water

of the sea finishing in a cement species, and letting to him freeze later on

the own boat? But, in what proportions to make the mixture? Truely, there was

no time to prove all these things. Of some way, by God and other times

guessing it by means of God and other times guessing it, with each one of the

elements against, Eric Wace was hoping that all those things took place. And

Van Rijn? In what it contributed They go Rijn? The basic idea according to the

way to see the things, of all of them was that Wace was the Aladino genius.

Oh, had extraordinary imaginative reflections that nobody could deny. But the

imagination is cheap. Anyone could say: "What we needed are new arms, and we

can do to them by such and such imprecedentes materials". It is an idea of a

stupid fantasy that somebody comes to show to them what Wace was imagining for

them. Thus, then, having made a slave of his almost engineer, Goes Rijn could

take a walk all the day by the environs spending jokes with and discussing

with others and when he already had to them to all working, he was coiled in a

blanket and, to sleep.

Chapter 17

Wace stayed on the cover of the Rijstaffel and remained watching how his enemy

arrived from the horizon of the sky. Slowly, it put the hand in stock-market

that it had to his side. Its hand took a bread piece and another one of

sausage, was the last terrestrial food that was. During several terrestrial

days now, it had stayed with a much more abundant ration that before, so that

he could enter battle with something in the stomach. Suddenly, account

occurred of which it, after all did not want. After him a square of primitive

sailors that had constructed masts of a piece with green wood, planted face to

the wind of the north. These ice boats were round, but considerably less than

the boats of the Drako; and with an incredible talent for the tyranny, They go

Rijn had obtained that lannascha worked under frozen waters of the sea,

cutting the bottom of the ice, and constructing boats of pointed form by the

base. Now, given the power of the diomedana race, the war of lannascha would

be developed on the waves of Arenan. In spite of everything, the most

difficult moment, reflected Wace, had not been while they worked heartlessly

to finish the boat; the most difficult moment had come later, when they were

almost quick to leave, as a result of headwinds. During a period measured in

terrestrial days, thousands of lannascha had been become demoralized under

frozen rains, looking for fished and birds to feed their young that starved.

The Advisors and the clan of the Leaders said that this was the most important

war of all its history: There was no another election if he were not to leave

the Kilnu immediately. However, shouting, discussing, even punishing,

requesting, promising - and in few cases, suplicando with which he had gained

most of the times -, They go Rijn had maintained those beings in Dwarnach.

Good, everything was to point! The merchant left a small stone cabin, walked

towards the cover, he happened in front of some machines military, and of some

hand-thrown weapons, until he reached the arcs where Wace stayed. - More bond

than commas - it said soon you will not have opportunity. - I am not hungry -

Wace said. - No? - They go Rijn took sándwich of between the fingers of then

Wace-, condemnation, I yes that I have! - and it began to eat it to it with

great bites. Once again it dressed one double armor, but it had chosen a

weapon only for this occasion, a stone axe of great dimensions with the handle

of a meter of length. Wace took tomahawk smaller and an armor. Around the

humans the Lannascha Navy extended. - They are preparing themselves to receive

to us - Wace said. Their eyes watched the extension of the enemy canoes that

struggled against the wind. - Delays perhaps that extend an immense carpet

since they do in America? I play whatever to you you want that they saw us

already many hours ago. Now they send fast messengers towards his Navy in

Lannach - They go Rijn took the last piece of meat, it kissed it

reverentemente and ate it. But after all lannascha was winged fighters, tigers

at this moment, thought Wace. The trip which they had done towards the south

them had rested, and the terrain relief had provided to them with means

sufficient to be able to feed; and the desire that had of battle had imposed

they a new value. Also although they had a smaller ship, probably had more

soldiers, still counting on the probable absence of the Navy of Delp. On the

other hand, they were possible to be allowed the luxury to make small

guerrillas. Their females and the young young were still in Dawrnach (with

Sandra that had taken a whiter color and it had been tranquilized). They did

not have treasures by which to be able to worry. As only impediment took to

the arms and hatred. From clouds, Tolk, the Heraldo, lowered. It did it with

the extended wings, but without moving them, planning, reaching the land

smoothly, and curving his neck as if a swan one was, to watch the humans. -

Goes here all good? - it asked. - As well as it was possible to be wished - it

said Go Rijn- are signals of the no Navy in Lannach? - None, still. It would

make say you which is the name of the new Admiral which we heard speak to

these prisoners, he has messengers crossing the mountains. But this earth is

very great this way. There would not be time to locate to him. - Nevertheless

- it said Go Rijn -, we must hope to them soon. - Are safe you that we will be

able...? - I am not safe of anything, and, now, he returns with Trolwen. Tolk

again agreed and beat the air with its wings. - Good - it said Go Rijn- now

begins ours, that San Dimas it protects to me! - San Jorge would be a little

more appropriate, does not create? - Wace asked. - Perhaps you think thus. But

I am too much old, heavy and cowardly one to call to San Miguel, or Jorge or

Olaf or to any other of the soldiers of which they speak. I am far better in

house with no santo who remembers energetic facts to me, one like Dimas, or my

own christian name that is name of travellers. - and also it is the pattern of

the salteadores of ways - remarcó Wace. He had wished that its language had

not been made so thick and so dry suddenly. One felt anxious... not truely

scared... but their knees shook to him as much and "the Father Ours" terribly

seemed to him little familiar. - Ja! - it exploded Go Rijn- stuck that blow

well, boy. The artilleryman of the part of stern on the Rijstaffel. A shout

and the thumb had put average ton of stone in the nearest canoe. The boat

shook; her crew shouted and on her a part of the soldiers of Trolwen fell; it

had a little while of a mortal confusion and, then, draconnay of that boat had

let exist. They go Rijn took to the astonished captain artilleryman by the

hands and it balanced it on cover singing: - Du bist mein sonenscheln, mein

einzij. Soneneech ein, du machst to mir freulich... Another canoe approached

with a continuous swing towards them. Wace saw its throwing ones of flames and

the crew who inclined on her arms and he fell down under the small wall that

surrounded the cover by ice. The waters struck the flank of the boat and they

threw it towards a side and soon it became to extend on the sea. The water was

completely, frozen. Hidden safe from the flanks I read boat, hundreds of

lannascha upwards sent arrows, describing a curve on the sky fell upon the

canoe. Wace tended next to the cover wall. The one in charge of one of the

firearms, seemed dead. Suddenly, on one of the parts of the canoe, one

extended desolation and the panic. A voice was heard that shouted: - Death to

the front, towards there! The boat of lannascha sank. The canoes of the Drako

formed a circle as if they were surrounding a wounded buffalo using all the

speed and all the masters that they had in these operations. Converging on a

simple boat, they dealed with to approach. They were not, none, inferior in

number, and were quick to the assault. In the meantime, Trolwen with one abs

oluta skill in the air, went from a part to another one shooting and using the

axe. The canoes of the Drako as soon as lanz is aban to the attack. The small

boats were destroyed, set afire and separated to a side as if they were

unsuitable by his powerful enemy. By the virtue of being first, in attacking

in forward edge, the Rijstafel made little opposition. Everything what there

was there was bitten by the catapults, the fire arrows and all the arms.

Behind, the same sea burned and formed smoke clouds. It faces, were the great

boats. When these sailors and soldiers were at sight of the dragoons of Wace,

these began to sing the hymn of the victory of the Flook. - They are a little

premature, no? - it shouted from the place where one was. - Ah - it said Go

Rijn, from where it was, calmly déjales which they laugh at the moment. Many

of them will fall soon, and they will suffocate between the fish, is not asi?

- That I create - hastily as if it had fear of which it had made to save his

own life, Wace said -: I like this song, to you no? It is looked much like

some old American popular song, John Hart, for example. - the songs of the

Flook are very well if you yourself you were a Flook - espetó Van Rijn- I

prefer Mozart, for example. - I always wished to get a day to

include/understand to Bach, before dying, and to the old Johann Sebastián that

spoke with God in mathematics. I do not have brain, nevertheless, in this

condemned head mine. Perhaps anyway, it requests one more an opportunity to

listen to the Eine Kline Nachtmusik. There was a great movement in the Fleet,

Slowly and with much care, the boats were leaving the attempt of evasion. They

were being organized in battle formation. They go Rijn made rage and anger a

full gesture towards a Silbador. - Fast! Dile raises and Trolwen quickly that

does not worry in covering to us from the sky against the canoes. It must

attack the boats. That to them it maintains occupied, by all the demons! You

do not leave are messengers who go from a part to another one until the point

from which they can get to organize itself! While the young person lannascha

left, the merchant shouted so that everybody could oir to him: - By all the

demons! Until when I will have to occupy to think to me about everything? By

the good one of San Nicholas, traedme an official, with brain between the two

ears, instead of stupid, and I will construct a Mars cathedral to you! You

have heard to me? - Trolwen is fighting there above - Wace- protested you you

cannot hope that he can think about everything. - Perhaps not - perhaps it

granted Go Rijn of bad desire, I I am the unique one in all the Galaxy that

does not commit errors. Closely together, the global mass of the boats became

a storm when Trolwen gave its opinion. To beat of wings it caused that all

that was a reddish chaos. Wace thought that its boat podr ía to happen closely

together of all that, but avoiding the destruction. - they are not fighting of

an integral form - it said striking with his fist on the wall by all the

demons, are not doing it! A Silbador landed taking on its body bleeds frost;

there was a terrible wound on one of his sides. - There... Tolk, the Heraldo,

says... to an empty place... a place... where they can attack Fleet - then,

the body fell on the cover. Wace stopped taking to the young person cruel in

its arms. Oía as the blood were crowded around in its lungs until drowning to

him. Finally it died. They go Rijn rectified the position of the vessel in

which they were, a few degrees only; it could not make another thing. But

while the other boats began to approach the ice cover, it was possible to be

seen that there was an ample crack in its line. If assault of Trolwen had

prevented that approached to them. The water was dyed of red, and in her

arrows and arcs floated, that indicated as a hand towards the floating castle

of the Admiral. - There - it shouted Go Rijn- you end them! Coméoslos for

breakfast. A catapult whistled near them and went to give against the wall,

grazing its sleeve, and making jump ice pieces consequence of the blow.

Suddenly an ignited arrow fell, one of lannascha shouted at the same time. The

fire began to extend. This time did not serve anything to throw water, the oil

and the masts had become a great torch. Suddenly, They go Rijn saw that the

boat Was going to sink and it was mixed with all the soldiers who were on her

and within the great confusion who spread, it was forwards and leaning against

the wall, with the stone axe and began to issue orders with her in the hand. -

Here - express shouted! Ayudadme, band of stupid! Express! It is that you have

hairs in the brain? Express before we sink! Wace, directing the crew of

artillerymen, who was fighting against a near boat, did not realize of which

it happened, more than of a very vague form. Others were quick long before

that he. The confusion that reigned in the ship was enormous. They arrived at

a little while in that the boats were as opposed to others in a terrible

fight; they ran from a side to another one throwing backwards to mans clone

gives Drako it that did not know towards what side to go. The trunks that

formed the boat crujían. While the Rijstafel moved away, the enemy vessel

became an enormous pyre of flames. Now, the ice boat was almost

uncontrollable, lead at certain moments by the deepest currents and also by

the movements due to the fight that was being developed. But, through the hole

that it had extended yet ardor Goes Rijn, the rest of lannascha put in him to

protect itself. The flames of the war formed a species of floating monsters,

but the wood would be burned, whereas the ice no. Through one humareda

enormous and more and more increasing, between the darts and the arrows that

went from a part to another one, from top to bottom, on a cover full of death

and wounds, but still full of hatred towards the enemy, Wace approached

towards the pump of next crew. They were being prepared to set afire another

boat as soon as the enemy boat approached her. - Not - it said. - What? - the

captain at the same time became towards Wace showing in his face the surprise

that made bristle its crest in sample of stupor but gentleman, they will throw

fire to us to us. - That we can support it - Wace- said we are very well

protected by our walls. Nevertheless, I do not want to burn that boat. I want

to capture it. They go Rijn that way passed at that moment raising its axe. It

could not have heard what Wace was saying, but, without I engage the clutch,

murmured: - Ja. It was on the verge of also ordering this I. We can use this

boat to transport our supplies. The order ran throughout all the boat. His,

covered slippery it was darkened with armed shades that waited for a new

fight. Approaching more and plus the floating ice ship, It approached the

other boat that at the same time acquired one more a higher and greater form

due to the proximity. Fire, stones, and fights spread by all the corners. The

fight was hard, lannascha supported it with enough entereza. Wace sent to a

Silbador towards Trolwen to request aid; a flying detachment sent by the

artillery of the Draco with arrows. Trolwen had a numerical great superiority.

It could cover the sky with his soldiers, doing to hope to draconnay for an

assault on the sea. Until then, Wace thought, the Gods of Diomedes had been

smiling. They could not support it much more. It followed the first wave of

lannascha. Suddenly, Wace thought to reach one of the superior masts of the

boat and for it passage between the crowd was opened and began to climb. When

alc anzó the top and when had raised his tomahawk and prepared its armor,

without realizing it was in the frontal line of the soldiers. The smoke of the

boats burned throughout, hurt its eyes; only indifferently it saw the

defenders drakonay, that avanz before aban in rows he and towards the highest

cover. Perhaps had been redoubled the shouts and the tumult suddenly? A

forzudo finger gave blows him in the back. One became and one was with the

glance of Go Rijn. - Diantres and demons! what class of climbing was this one!

Better it had been than I had had left down, no? Good, boy, now we are in

ours, our own atmosphere. Tolk finishes to me sending a message, the

expeditionary force of the complete Drako, is at sight and it approaches

towards here, quickly.

Chapter 18

grasped its weapon with force. To his around the winged bodies shouted, they

moved and they advanced quickly in all directions. These were mainly troops of

the trimming of Mannenach; each one of the ice boats took a quite high number

of soldiers, to who, it had taught the most elementary knowledge to them of

the earth fight. And throughout the trip towards the south until arriving at

the encounter of the Fleet, Goes Rijn and the captains of Lannascha, had

exhorted to them: - Never, at no moment, you mix yourselves with the Air

Force. You remain on the cover when we approach a boat. The success of our

plan consists of the amount of boats that we pruned to catch or to destroy.

Trolwen and its swarms of the air will go over us for ayudaros. These ideas

did not enter well the head of all the diomedanos perfectly. Wace was not

completely safe if this plan not to die it after one hour to have it saying,

leaving him to him and to They go Rijn single on the cover while the soldiers

sent themselves without a direction determined towards a battle in the sky But

he did not have another election, more than to trust them at the moment.

Suddenly it threw to run. The noise that made their followers destroyed its

brain to him as if it was the emptiness of drums. Wings moved in front of him,

very instinctively the desentrenadas lines of the Drako were being opened in

two lines. Through the geologic eras the only good thing that it could make a

diomedano had been to take by above to an attacker. Wace burst in into the

place where they had been. The enemy navigators were decided before these

peculiar adversaries who did not fly. Lannascha forgot his to have, wanted to

fly but suddenly it was itself struck by three enemy bodies. He fell like

guiñapo in the sea; Draconnay was sent downwards. Suddenly, they approached a

speed possessed towards them. The occasional land troops of lannascha, had

taken their armors made by they themselves and that conserved of last the

distant one and quickly they were transformed into artificial turtles. The

rest waited for the aerial assault. And the arqueros were prepared. Wace heard

sinistro whistle that rose after him, and saw fifty draconnay. Later, a

dragoon passed near its face, taking with himself a knife. Wace stopped the

blow on the armor. This blow fell on its left arm bruising muscles to him. It

at the same time sent patadón that catched completely the hard belly of the

enemy and saw as this one lost the balance. His tomahawk rose and fell with

all its forces on him, oyendo a terrible sound. The diomedano fell as if it

was assaulted by a epiléptica disease as a result of his broken wing that had

produced him the blow. Wace hurried, the draconiano was hoping to shoot its

arc. The object was to capture the artillery of the boat. Somebody from above

must have seen what tried. From one it leaves to another one of the boat was

possible to be seen the soldiers with arrows of lannascha; but suddenly an

organized affluent line of the mass of draconnay approached a great speed

towards the cover and when it arrived at her, it planted to them before the

main battery of the throwing ones of flames and the balistas. - Thus! - it

murmured Go Rijn- anyway, these make things that are not badly absolutely. But

now we will see. Suddenly he approached with trote somewhat elefantino, taking

with himself his axe over the head; a generous stone piece gives some axe

struck to him in the abdomen, an arrow happened clearing the cheek to him, and

some darts bounced on their double armor. One approached of a jump towards two

winged guards to give spirits them and at the same time it struck with his axe

to the air as if it saw imaginary enemies. At that moment one was between the

defenders. - Je maintiendrai!-shouted, and approached its head towards next of

the Draco- that God sends the reason - it shouted giving a blow with his axe

which Fram approached him, Fram, Kristmen, Krossmjnn, Kongsmenn! - it

continued shouting and defying three soldiers who approached him Heineken Bier

- he said becoming to fight towards a winged shade that approached to him

behind, taking it by the neck. Wace and lannascha approached him. There was an

interval of fight, and a noise of broken bones, wings and tails. Draconnay

burst in there. They go Rijn one approached towards a throwing one of flames

and went to put it in movement. - You aim towards there - it shouted we see if

we can sweep them to all, infected heads. One of lannascha approached the

military operation that was conducted of ceramics, it pushed with force the

ignition wood button, and threw boiling oil. Down, on the cover, inferior, the

balistas began to hum, the catapults sang their song military, and the

throwing ones of flames did not stop a little while. A part of the men who

were in the ice boat reunited next to one of the wood machines, and threw

darts to the last ones of the Draco attackers. A female ran towards the

superior part of the boat: - It is to our husbands to those who are killing! -

it screamed destruidlos! They go Rijn it jumped of the upper deck, and fell to

about three meters. There were enemies who prepared themselves to attack to

him. Shouting, moving its arms one approached towards the monstrous beings: -

You back down! - it shouted in its own language You go backwards! If, it is

you create it and you. It is that you want to leave to your children without

protection? I like a the young people draconnay. He left that place and he

backed down towards a site where it was possible to be protected. Wace left a

hollow. Its body was flooded of sweat. It did not have been in much danger.

Perhaps, in theory, a female could arrive to be carved up before the eyes of

its sprouts, but, that could arrive at this? In any case, Eric Wace, no. He

was better to leave and to dedicate themselves to the fight like a horseman.

Suddenly, account occurred of which the boat was hers. The smoke was still

very dense in the air so that it could see well, as he went by the other

sites? Here and there, through a breach, it appeared some vision: A boat was

in flames, left; an ice vessel, destroyed, without masts, plenty of arrows

that had fallen on him, went to the drift; another boat lannascha that lay

next to another boat, and another one more approaching to one than still took

on the soldiers. Wace did not have idea of how the fight could go on the sea,

whichever small ice boats are spoken destroyed or how many soldiers had

deserted, or, catched by the instantaneous attack of the Draco, leaving

unsuitable the boats and some enemies. It was perfectly sure - it thought - Go

Rijn had said it with enough clarity to Trolwen in the Council, who but the

small one, the worse one equipped, virtually out of condition navigation

lannacha, would not have opportunity to win to the Fleet. The crucial phase of

this battle was not going to be reduced to stones or flames. It watched

upwards. There to the distant spot, where its glance could not reach, the sky

pretended incredibly calm. The formation military balancing itself from a side

to the other, they were so far from which seemed as if darts were dying.

Single after minutes its inexpert eye realized situation true. Having to the

greater one of its task in the boats, Trolwen was ridiculously inferior in

number in the air as soon as arrived Delp. On the other hand, the elements of

Delp had been flying during hours unemployment to arrive here; the good

individually did not have rested comparison that was lannascha. Occurring to

account of this each one of loe members of the divisions, it had his

particular advantage; Delp ordered impenetrable masses of men who went to the

load; Trolwen used swarms smaller than they moved in the fight, they struck

with all his force and they returned towards the boats. Lannascha backed down

at the same time, except when Delp tried to send a great number of soldiers to

stand out in the boats. Then, the complete force magnificently integrated in

the air to the disposition of Trolwen would go to burst in against this enemy

group of forces. This would disperse when Delp brought the reinforcements, but

already speak obtained its intention: To break the formation and not to allow

the free movements in the sea. Thus they continued the things during some

limitless time under the sun of the High Summer. Wace was lost to itself

contemplating the terrible beauty of the winged and disciplined death. The

voice of volv Goes Rijn him ió to the reality towards the wretch lack of wings

of the humans. perhaps - Wide-awake, you are dreaming, as you remain there

with the open mouth and breathing with anxiety! Rayos and Lucifer! If we want

to continue conserving this boat, we must do I follow with her, by all the

demons! You direct the battery here and I am going to say to those men which

must do. Thus! - a voice that but remembered the sound of a locomotive by the

depth well and by the noise Gave that produced. They had been able to free

itself of all the attacks to return to capture the boat and until the crew

thrown of her went to meet with the legions of Delp. Now, and, suddenly, They

go Rijn took the boat and one approached and it put it in movement. It was

approached slowly over smoky waters until arriving at a Draco boat that was

before him. Then, as if it had been a spontaneous movement, the arrows formed

a curtain, and the crew as much had an Aspect in a side as in the other, like

being badly at a moment. Wace continued in its site in the superior part of

cover, directing the fire of its arms. Stones, fights, pumps, oil, everything

were thrown in an extension of a few meters as if it was a total avalanche. In

a while determined, a special brigade organized to extinguish the fire that

the enemy had sent. But late it saw one of his new catapults squashed by a

stone of two tons, and forced the survivors to raise this stone and to throw

it to the sea and to return to the fight. It saw like at certain moments, the

crew, acquired a strange aspect, as if they were completely drunk and the

bodies both entrechocaban a con others on vessels behind each one of the

terrible blows that were sent. And at the same time and yet the rage of the

fight was asked in a rinconcito of its brain why the fight did not have more

feeling, in no place of the universe, that to be always fighting a con the

others. They go Rijn did not have the quality of crew who needed to win that

battle like a neolithic Nelson. Nor its specialty either did not allow him to

try a boarding against another boat; it was only all his small force which

allowed its small force him military, it was to attack this man and to fight

against this Other. But, nevertheless, one stayed there with firmness,

containing to the men of the crew in the war on which they were insisting,

going from a part to other to maintain in the most complete exahustación to

the rowers lannascha. And its boat went from a part to another one through the

fire storm, a storm of living bodies, until it was almost on the vessel of the

enemy. The horns were raised to the air between draconnay, their soldiers sent

themselves with all their forces and burst in from BUS places to desengajar

the formation of the Fleet. They go Rijn let to them do, watching at his

around the masts and the cords that extended around to some kilometers to his.

Suddenly one approached towards the next hatchway, he lowered through the

aftercastle, and thus he arrived at the main deck. One rubbed the hands and he

said: - Aja, we gave a small beating them, is not thus? They will not return

to approach any of our boats in a moment! - I do not include/understand,

Chancellor - Angrek with an immense respect said we have one more a smaller

crew and with less intelligence. It must have approached or, at least, to

approach us there. It could to us have swept if we had not left the boat! - Ah

- it said Go Rijn. He extended his finger that remembered a sausage but you

see, youngster he is taking to the women and to the children al same time that

much useful that us can be of great value and other goods. Her complete

family, is in the boat. One does not dare to risk his destruction; we could

burn to them easily, without remission, in case we did not prune to capture to

them. Ja! It will be a morning of much pleasure for all those that are in hell

when Nicholas van Rijn arrives there, lives God! - the females... - the eyes

of Angrek rose towards the superior part of the cover. Their eyes showed a

strange brightness. - After all - it murmured - it is not as if they were our

females... A great one, part of Lannascha went in that direction, apparently

with a determined intention, but their wings were unfolded and their open

tails rigidly. It was a known thing very that most of the most recent soldiers

was in this group, more than in other classes. Wace arrived running towards

the edge from superior cubier ta. One inclined by the railing, it put his

hands as a horn in his mouth and shouted: - Freeman van Rijn! Watch towards

that part, upwards! - In agreement. The merchant put his hand on the forehead

to watch, closed a little the eyes, blinked, breathed with force and soon he

made a sound as a snore with his nose. One by one, lannascha rested on the

bloody covers elevating their glance towards the sky. And a rigidity was

pronounced in them. There above, the battle was finishing. Delp had finalized

the meeting of all its forces in same a unique mass but irresistible and it

had taken to them downwards to all to the time towards the level of the sea.

There they met with the crew of the boats that were in battle, boat by boat,

one after another one. A party of lannaschas that had been and to such an

extent so suddenly inferior in number, did not have election to be able to fly

and to leave its ice boat, and were towards Trolwen. Draconnay hic ieron only

an attempt of by returning to capture the boat that was completely in

possession of lannascha. It cost to them much. The instructions stayed at the

moment that had occurred previously; these purely aerial forces, were

relatively impotent against an affluent unit defended of the Fleet. Having

determined of a decisive way and with all exactitude who would have to attack

and at what moment each one of the boats, Delp regrouped its forces and lead a

portion of its troops again, to attack the air groups, that already had been

increased, of Trolwen. If it managed to make them flee, then, given what it

was left of the boats of the Draco but the total of the domination that at

those moments they had in the sky, Delp could reconquer the lost vessels. But

Trolwen did not flee so easily. And while the naval fight, as They go Rijn had

been dictating, continued there down, a ferocious combat settled in clouds. By

both parts, as much in the naval thing as in the air, the battle was indecisa.

Such era, of an approximated way,!a situation of the events, as well as Tolk

related to the humans one hour more or less but late. Everything what could be

seen from the water was that the Navies, in war of the sky they were

separated. So soon they lowered as they flew from a part to another one

zigzagging towards inconcretos points, so soon were two united masses of a

confused form like two black points that were tightened against a cloud bank.

Doubtlessly, threats, shouts, and insults threw an a the others to the wind,

but no longer there were arrows. - What is that? - Angrek exclaimed -. What it

is what it is happening there? - If it doubts, a fight - it said Go Rijn.

Hurgó the teeth with the nail, and struck the abdomen complacientemente. -

they were being prepared to the fight, but in the end Tolk sent somebody to

Delp and it let him know that they could be entertained in parlam to entar,

and, then, Delp acceded. - But... we cannot... you nor can deal with the

Draco! He is not... is a foreigner. A murmur of voices that reinforced the

feeling of Angrek ran throughout all the Lannascha groups. - this one cannot

be talked with a wild, filthy animal as - Angrek-everything said what it is

possible to be done is to kill to him. Or he will kill to him. They go Rijn

made a gesture significant to Wace that was in the upper deck to which it was,

and said in English: - I thought that perhaps we could say now to them that

this truce is the only objective of all our fight, perhaps peto is better not

to say to it them now, you do not create? - I wonder myself if never they will

arrive to admit or to accept this point - it said youngest of the humans. - We

will have to admit it, today, and I hope that they do not bury to us alive

reason why we have said. After all, we caused that Trolwen and the Council

acceded. But then if he is thus they are hard egg heads. - They go Rijn shrank

of shoulders we speak now. Now that appears the opportunity to us with more

brilliance. This it is the moment in which the letters are put on the table,

Ja! You have the nerves sufficiently the temperings to see what can happen.

Chapter 19

Approximately one déc ima part of the boats separated of the general confusion

and they met to a few kilometers far. Them some ice boats approached that were

still in use. The covers of all of them were flooded of soldiers who hoped

impatiently. These were the vessels of lannach. Another one tenth part

approximately was burning, or had been undone and defeated by the fire, the

stones until they sank under waters of the Achan. These were the boats of

which already nobody had account, left by both sides, both nations. Among them

there were small undecked vessels in two, broken, in which it did not have but

that great despoliation, or where all the crew was composed by Dacconnay dead.

Those that was directed forming a great mass around the castle of the admiral.

Of course it was not a group of constituted boats either, and better prepared

or formed by equipped canoes or. No crew had escaped to have her losses, and a

good number of vessels could be said that they were already unsuitable. If the

Fleet could return to half of their force of fight normal to put it in action

again they would have much luck. Nevertheless, this was almost three times

greater than the units than lannascha had at this moment. The number of males

by each side was approximately equal; but with a superior space of load, the

Dr aconnay had In addition the ammunition. Each one of its vessels, was also

superior individually, better constructed than the ice boats, and better

prepared than the captured boats. Brief, drako even had the balance of the

power. While they helped to Are going Rijn to put in a captured canoe, Tolk

said with certain malhumor: - I in his place it would keep my put armor,

terrestrial. Thus nor it would have but that to tie it to me when to truce it

finishes. - Ah! The merchant extended his arms of a monstrous way, he occurred

blows in the stomach and he was dropped on a seat. - We suppose, nevertheless,

that the armistice is not broken. Then I will have been dressing this damn

corsé without no reason. What would be worse than a dart in my buttock, I put

by witness to San Dimas. - I realize - Wace- added that neither you nor

Trolwen take armors. The commander smoothed his skin with nervous hand. - That

is because of the dignity of the Flok - it murmured -, these stupid ones are

not going to think that I am scared of them. The canoe began to move, its crew

inclined on the oars. Lannascha slipped sweetly towards a dark water place

Over them watched the rest of the guard, putting whichever enthusiasm could in

the demonstration of the flying parade so that it saw the enemy them. There

was approximately a hundred. It would not serve anything to mix itself between

the iracundos Fleet. - I do not hope that we pruned to reach no agreement -

nobody said to Trolwen- can... with a as strange intelligence as the one that

they have. The people of the Fleet are exactly just as you - she said Go Rijn

-, which you need is more understanding between you yourself, condemnation! It

seems to me very well that you kill yourselves, but you do not have racial

prejudices. - You say that they are like us? - Trolwen exclaimed. Their eyes

enlarged enormously and they put of a yellow color terrestrial sight... - it

does not matter - it said Go Rijn- I agree in which they do not have a station

in the year to emigrate. And you think that this is a very great thing, of

much importance. In agreement. But now I have things in which to think by same

me. He closes the tip! The wind raised enormous waves and it crowded around

myself with great force. The air was cold, humid, smelling a little to salty

life. It was not a little while very easy to die, thought Wace, it last of

all, nevertheless, to save to Sandra, while it was tended under ice reefs of

Dawrnach. It requests by my soul, loved, while you hope to follow to me. It

requests by my soul. - It leaves the feelings personal of a part - Tolk- said

is much to discuss on our subjects. For example, a tribe with life, so other

people's to us as drascha, will have an equally strange spirit. I do not try,

attempt not to follow your thoughts, terrestrial. I and consider my friend,

but we admit it, we have very little in common. I only trust you because your

immediate reason - to survive has been easily comprehensible for me. When I

with himself not to follow perfectly your reasonings, can easily think that at

least it beams with good intention. - But draska now, how we can trust them?

Let us say that one reaches a peace accord. How we will be able to know that

they will respect it? They cannot have concept of the honor absolutely, as

well as they do not have any concept of the sexual decency. Or although they

even try to carry out his júrame cough, is that we could be sure that the

words of the treaty will mean the same for them who stop we. In my capacity of

Heraldo, I have seen many semantic lacks of understanding, between tribes with

different languages. Therefore, that will be of the tribes with different

instincts? - Or I ask myself... He is that perhaps we will be able to even

count we ourself in respecting such treaty? We did not hate to anybody by the

simple fact of to have fought against us, But we hated the deshonor, the

perversion, the dirt. How we can live with we ourself, if we establish La Paz

with creatures to those who the Gods must despise? He sighed and he watched

with great agitation towards the next boats. Wace made a face: - it has been

happened to you to think, that they are thinking of the same form, the same

things as far as you? - it talked back to him. - Clear that they are doing it

- said to Tolk- this one is the another most important point in the footpath

of the negotiations. Personally, Wace thought, very I will be satisfied with a

temporary treaty. Nothing else it is necessary to leave them that they fix his

differences sufficiently like so that allows us to send a message that reaches

to Thursday Landing. As for me after the message has arrived, they can

absolutely be killed and annihilate an a the others without to me she matters

to me. He watched the winged and thin forms that were to his around, and

thought about the work and the war, the torment and the triumph; yes and

sometimes in some laughter or the fragment of a song. He thought about the

good heart of Trolwen, the philosophical Tolk, the impulsive young person

Angrek; he thought about Bravo and amiable Delp and their Radonix wife, who

was much more lady who many human females that he had known. And the small

covered youngsters of skins, that are revolcaban between sweepings or they

raised between his legs. No, he said himself to itself, I am mistaken. This

means much for my, after everything, that this war would have to finish for

always. The canoe slid among other boats. Some faces dracco downwards watched

imperturbables, towards them. Once in a while some escupía the water. They

were all very calm. There was a pile of soldiers extended throughout and a

special guard formed a ring surrounding the main deck. In front of the wood

tower, surrounded by skins and cushions, admiral T'heonax and his advisor

hoped. To a side he was Delp captain with few of his personal guards, had with

the habits military, dirty plenty still of sweat and. A total silence extended

over them as the canoe arrived and until this stopped before the boat.

Trolwen, Tolk and most of the troops lannascha flew over the cover. It was

minutes later after many sufferings and oaths that the humans could arrive at

the top of the cover where were the heads of both army! They go Rijn watched

his around. - What hospitality! - only one small cord exclaimed in language

dracco- that tends to him to one from abaje, and that is, hoisting to my poor

bones tired towards a tomb that... it would not have to be more than for you.

I put to skies by witness, who this is very hard. Very hard! Some times I

think about leaving and retiring. Then what will be of the Galaxy? At that

moment all you would feel very ashamed, when already outside too much late.

T'heonax directed a satirical glance to him. - You were not the guest who

better conducted itself of all whatever had the Terrestrial Fleet - she

responded - I have many debts with you. Yes. I have not forgotten it. They go

Rijn went towards Delp, extending its hand: - Thus, then, she was I who I was

right, and you were you the one who you were making all the work - it talked

back - it must to me have supposed it. Nobody more than you between the Fleet

has as much brain. I, Nicholas Van Rijn showed all my respect to him. T'heonax

straightened up and their rigid advisors, somewhat watched surprised towards

the admiral whom did not pay attention. Delp shrank for a moment. But later it

acceded to give the hand to Rijn and it tightened it with force to the

terrestrial way. - That the Lodestar helps me, it satisfies to see his

thickness and vile face this way me again - it said you know you it to point

that was to cost my to me... good everything what I am? If it had not been by

my wife... - We did not mix the businesses and the friendships - ah said Go

certain Rijn with soltura-, if, its good Rodonix wife. How one is now and all

the small ones? Still they remember to the old Nicholas uncle and the stories

that it narrated to them when they were going away to sleep like for

example... - If it does the favor to me - T'heonax with a voice said that

revealed his nervousness-we would want if you us allow it, to continue. Who

will do of interpreter? If now him agreement, heraldo. - a full glance of then

resentment pays attention. Say to his leader who this parliament was allowed

by my commander of field, Delp to her Orikan, without sending if it loves a

messenger here to consult to me. It had opposed me to it it to have known. One

was prudent nor necessary. I will have to make sweep these covers where they

have stepped on the Barbarians. Nevertheless, since the honor of the Fleet is

pawned, you also have a word of honor in your language, is not thus? Then I

will hear what your leader must say. Tolk agreed courteously and it translated

to the language lannascha. Trolwen seated, declaring in, its eyes all the

concentrated attention. Their guards retired a little, and their hands were

narrowed on their arms. Delp moved its feet anxious, and some of the captains

of T'heonax watched at far from an embarrassing form. - Dile - Trolwen said

after a little while, with a bitter precision that we will allow that the

Fleet goes away immediately. Naturally we will need hostages. Tolk translated,

T'heonax retired its lips of between my teeth and it was ed ***reflx mng. They

are seated here with its small handful of boats undone, and they dare to say

this to us? But their advisors, who commanded their flotillas, remained

serious. It was Delp that said: - the admiral knows that I have taken part in

this war. With these hands, these wings, this tail, I have killed male

enemies; with these teeth I have bitten the blood of the enemy. Nevertheless,

I say now that it would be far better that we listened to them. - What? -

T'heonax was on its awares extremely I hope that you will be joking. They go

Rijn also went ahead. - I do not have time for stupidities - espetó -

escúcheme, and I will put the so clear things and words that a sprout of two

years could explain it to it. We have taken the most essential places from

this war and the main points of the Fleet, and if you one does not behave as

it must and it reasons properly, we will squash to them. Watch there! - its

arm extended widely towards the sea we have boats. Not so many, perhaps, but

enough. It will have to talk with us or we will continue fighting. If he is

not asi, soon you will be who you will not have sufficient boats. So he métase

that in the pipe and he absorbs with force. Wace agreed. Good. Quite good. It

was demonstrating that it rather vividly wished to interchange firings and

more firings among them or to cause that the soldiers fought a con the others

in the air. But what it did not wish was to risk to be boarded, to reject its

boats or that seized of them lannach. Because this was its house, the only way

in which the culture of these people conceived living. If the boats undid, it

would not have enough to be able to go to the fishing either to be able to

lodge the fish, nor either places where they could inhabit the groups of

soldiers who left alive this fight. It was not more than this. - we will sink

to You - T'heonax screamed. One rose, beating his wings, hoisting the crest,

and stretching the tail with as much force that seemed an iron bar. - We will

drown to each one of which they are of you. - It is possible - it said Go

Rijn- but you think that that is going to scare to us? If we left now, we will

have finished for always also. So first we will take you to hell with us, so

that our shoes abrillanten to us and to take drinks you cold, is not that?

Delp, said with certain pregnancy in its words: - We did not come to Achan by

the mere fact to love the destruction, but because the hunger lead to us. You

were who you denied the right to us to fish, straight that nobody never

granted to you. Oh, yes, we also took part from your earth, but it is the

water which we needed. We cannot leave at this moment. They go Rijn moved

anxious. - There are other seas. Or perhaps we allow you that you fish fish

more before you go away. A captain of the Fleet said very slowly: - My

gentleman, Delp has said most crucial of our subject. This deserves a

solution. After all, the sea of Achan has little value or no for you

lannascha. We, it is truth we seized of your coasts, and we occupied some

islands that are the source of the wood and of other things that you need. And

naturally we wanted a port for single us in Sajna Bay for moments of emergency

and repairs. These with subjects of defense and the sufficiency of each one of

us, but a thing so necessary not to live as the water. Thus, then, perhaps...

- Not - T'heonax shouted. It was almost a whine. It made them remain in

silence to all of them. The admiral shrank, giving small jumps during a little

while, and then he went to Tolk: - Dile to your Leader... who I, the supreme

authority... refuse. I say that we can make fun of of you and of your ships of

toy with small losses by our part. We do not have reasons for daros more

explanations. The only thing that we grant to you is that you keep High Earth

from Lannach. It is the highest concession than you can hope of us. -

Impossible - espetó heraldo. Then it said with all haste which had heard to

Trolwen, that shrank of shoulders and watched towards the air. - the mountains

do not support to us - Tolk with more calm explained we have eaten of them all

whatever had, and that is not a secret for anybody. We must also have Low

Earth. And we are sure that we will not allow that you seize of those earth as

wants that it is, so that you attack a year later to us. - If you think that

we can potters of the sea now, without a loss that also makes hundiros to you,

inténtalo right now - Wace added. - I said that we can! - it said angered

T'heonax and thus it dried it. - My gentleman - Delp said doubtfully. Their

eyes were closed during a second. Then my gentleman said with enough distrust

admiral, a fight at the moment would be surely the end of our nation. The few

boats that have survived would be the prow of the first Barbarians who are in

the islands. - and a retirement towards the ocean would also end us - T'heonax

said. Its forefinger extended - unless you can remove to the fruits and the

wood that we needed the sea of Achan or from waters that still are not known

to us. - That is truth naturally, my gentleman - Delp said. One became and it

watched the eyes of Trolwen. They arrogantly watched the one to the other, but

with respect. - Heraldo - this said to Delp- dile to your Head. We are not

going to leave the sea of Achan. We cannot. If you insist on which we do it,

we will throw it and I hope that you are destroyed without many losses by our

part. We do not have another election. - But I think that perhaps we can leave

any thought of occupation or am lannach or holmenach. We can keep all solid

Earth. We can also remove fish, salt, seaweed, workers, meals, stone, wood,

dresses and oil. With time he would be beneficial for all. - and incidentally

- it said Go Rijn- you could also think about this. If the draco does not have

earth, and Lannach does not have boats, more duro for each one of them would

be a little to wage the war with the other. He is not asi? After a few years,

the commerce and the wealth of each one would have made them independent and

the wars would be impossible. So if you agree now your quarrels will have

finished and then Nicholas Van Rijn with things will come from the Earth for

all. Like Noel father, my prizes also are very reasonable. What you say? -

Cállate - T'heonax shouted. It was towards the head of his guards and it gave

a push him with one of his wings and indicated to Delp. - It arrests this

traitor! - My gentleman. - Delp was thrown backwards. The guard doubted. The

soldiers of Delp approached surrounding their captain threateningly. From the

lowest cover certain murmurs were heard. - the Lodestar listens to me! - Delp

said -, I only suggested... I I know that the admiral has the last word... -

and my last word is not - the arrest like admiral declared T'heonax leaving of

a side at the moment and oráculo, I prohibit it. There is no a possible

agreement between the Fleet and these... these vile... filthy, revolting ones,

animals... - it passed the hand through its lips. Their hands were curved

becoming claws, that soon happened through their head. A murmur happened

through daconnay. The captain was with the extended wings, still maintaining

his dignity, but there was terror in his eyes. Lannascha, ignorantes of the

words but having a feeling what it happened crowded around together and still

took their arms with more force. Tolk translated quickly in low voice. When it

had finished, Trolwen sighed. - Hatred to have the one to admit - it said -,

but if let to know these words them are truth. Create truely, in serious, that

two as different races as ours can live the one next to the other? It would

cost much not to break the treaty. They can return to us to rob our earth

while we are in our emigration, to take all our cities... or we we could again

come once again towards the North with the Barbarian allies, and fight with

the promise of drako. We would return to sink our claws in the throats, of a

form or another one in the term of five years. Better it will be than we do it

now. Better it will be than we finish of once. It leaves Gods decide them who

is right and, who does not have right to live. Almost without realizing it put

in tension its muscles, to prepare itself to fight again if T'heonax finished

the armistice at this moment. They go Rijn raised to its hand and its voice.

It sounded like a drum. It caused that everybody stopped and the arrows were

again putting itself on carcaj. - Deteneos! You wait for only a minute by all

the demons. I have still not finished speaking. One went towards Delp. - You

have good sense. Perhaps we pruned to find some others with brain although

they will not be more than those than fit in a spoonful of tea of which they

sell my competitors. Now I am going to say something. I will use as the draco

language. Tolk, you can be translating at the same time. I have deciros

something that nobody in this planet has heard before. I say to you that you,

the draco and lannascha are not foreign, are the same and identical stupid

race. Wace contained the breathing. - What? - it whispered in English -, but

the reproductive cycles... - Matadme to this worm gordinflón - T'heonax

shouted. They go Rijn made a gesture with the impatient hand. - Tranquilízate.

I am speaking. Thus, then, siéntate, sentaos the two nations, and you listen

Nicholas Van Rijn.

Chapter 20

The evolution of intelligence in the life of Diomedes still remains in the

incognito; there has been no time to obtain fossils of others eras. But basing

to us on the base of existing Biology and on the general principles, it is

possible to deduce the millenarian events. In certain time in the tropical of

the planet, there was a small continent or very great island, that was a very

thick forest, the equatorial regions never know of the long days and nights of

the high latitudes: In the equinox the sun remains in high during six hours,

to cross the sky and remains hidden during other six; in the solstice there is

a certain lightning, the sun is either superficially or below the horizon. In

which one talks about Diomedes, these are ideal conditions that will give a

permanent, abundant and good life. Between the species of this last time it

had a small carnivore of shining eyes. Like some flying Earth animals, and he

developed his membranes by means of which he jumped of branch in branch. But a

planet of low density, has a different structure. The continents rise and they

sink due to speed incidents, and this happens in hundreds or thousands of

years. The currents of the ocean and the air correspond; and because of the

great axial movement and of the surrounded greater fluid masses, the currents

of Diomedes are a warm or a cold more considerable than in the Earth. Thus,

then, until in Ecuador, there were radical climatic shifts of position. It had

then, a period which the old wood forests that formerly were precious turned

great and dry Pampas, the flying animals of those days developed true wings to

go from a side to another one But being an adaptable beast, it also began to

be prow of other hungry animals of grass that fed itself in all latitudes.

Therefore, eating grass and other animals it grew in size. But then needing

more eating for a greater body, a variation of the places was necessary that

surrounded to them, the sea, the mountains, and the plains; but then by virtue

of mobility it remained in a already certain place before to have to walk by

new spaces. An individual by itself could this way face many types of regions

in its life, him as a prize to its intelligence went. In this period for some

unknown reason, the species, or a part of them, the part destined to become

something important had to march the Earth where it had remained until then.

Possibly a earth landslide broke the original continent in small islands which

could not support a so great animal population. Whatever it is the cause, the

families and the tribes had to leave slowly towards the North or the South,

through a period of hundreds of generations. There they found territories new

and an excellent hunting, but a winter which they could not survive. When the

period arrived from the great nights, they were themselves forced to return to

the tropical to wait for the summer. He was not because of the place in where

their young of automatic action of the birds could reproduce, terrestrial

emigrants. This animal was already too intelligent to be an instinctive

machine; their customs were something learned. Selecc natural ion of the

annual flights stimulated this intelligence more and more. Now the prize to

intelligence is a very long period of youth in proportion to the total of the

life. Since then it is not the module of the action which counts, each

generation must learn all the new things, which has been long time. Therefore,

no species can get to be intelligent unless what surrounds to him produces

some mechanism to keep the together parents, so that they can protect to their

young children during the extensive period of infanc ia incapable to by itself

use or the period ignorante youth. The love of the mother is not enough; the

mother will have enough who to do with taking care of the inquisiciones or the

works that their children provide to him, without having to understand them to

it with gaining the sustenance at the same time or keeping them. The father

must help otherwise. But that kept to the father around the mother, once its

sexual instinct has been satisfied? The instinct can do it. Some birds, for

example, use parents both to take with himself to the young son. But the

instinctive impulses are incompatible with intelligence. The father must be a

good right to remain there, if the father has the mechanism is simple:

Permanent sexuality. The human never is satisfied once to the year. From this

fact the family derives itself, and argues the possibility of the

prolongation, the immaturity. In the case of the diomedanos, there was

emigration. Each tribe had a length and dangerous way to travel every year. He

was better to go in company, under some organized form. To the aim of the

trip, in the tropical, soon the abandonment was pronounced towards the tastes

of each one; but soon the inevitable trip of return appeared, because the

equatorial islands did not support to many visitors during long time. Without

counting this primitive annual group (since she was not one: instinctive

thing, but the fruit of the experience animal) were losses of permanent

associations. Defensive bands became cooperative bands. The exigencies of the

trip had caused that the females and the males specialized their type of body,

to fight, and others like porteadores of the things that took with himself. He

was then, advantageous that sexes maintained their companion the year

throughout. The animal of permanent family (in Diomedes, as a rule, a family

great affluent month, has a complete married clan) with long gestation, of

great number of young, the constant change and the challenge to the environs,

the fight to look for its foods during the winter with strange bands in

strange ways, this animal was a evolucionativa right yields greater time for,

to begin to think. Without counting on these reasons there was also a reason

to begin to pronounce itself by means of the language, to begin to use the

things, the fire, to pronounce itself like organized nations, and these vague

and unattainable situations are those that we called "culture". Now, while the

diomedano did not have an irrevocable module of reproduction conduct, it tried

to follow certain means of life. They were always easiest. Analogous, the

human class, is not pronounced by instinct to formalize and to regulate the

married things, but the human societies have done it thus almost invariably.

He is more comfortable in which it concerns everything. Thus the diomedanos

emigrated towards the South to reproduce. But they did not have porqué to do

it! When the reproductive cycle exists, they are controlled by some simple

machine. Thus, then, for many birds on the Earth it is the increasing

measurement of the day of the summer which causes the reproductive period to

them: The optical stimulus exerts on the hormonal process that makes react to

other sleeping cells. In Diomedes, this is not thus; the cycles of light vary

much with the latitude. But once proto intelligent diomedano has acquired

emigratorios habits (and therefore it must only reproduce in certain period of

the year, if the young person must survive) the evolution will take an obvious

course that it causes that the emigration is the governor of itself.

Ordinarily a hunter, with accidental meals of nuts, wild fruits or grains, the

diomedano exercises this very easily. The emigration requests a prolonged

effort; it must have hundreds or thousands of generations to develop flying

muscles, time sufficient to develop itself other adaptations. Thus, then, the

effort stimulates certain glands, that they operate through a complex,

hormonal to make wake up the reproductive cells. An exception was the nursing

female, whose mammary glands secreted a restricted agent. During the great

flight, the hormones of each sex were concentrated; there was no time to waste

the energy in these dissipations. Once they were already in the tropical,

rested and fed the diomedanos they recovered of the lost opportunities. And

they did it so incessantly that the return trip did not have any significant

effect in its exhausted glands. Sometimes once in the homes, and due to some

little usual exercise, some it could feel some desire towards opposite sex.

The one that felt it suppressed this, as rigorously as the human it suppresses

the impulses of the incesto, and due to more practical reasons: New born

outside the station it meant death during the emigration for him and his

mother. This does not mean that a great part of diomedanos made this; simply

they accepted the taboo, they founded religions and ethical systems and were

concentrated in it, nevertheless, doubtlessly the constant attraction during

all the year towards other sex had been a race to go conscious for the initial

development of sects and tribes. When the diomedanos emigrants found a tribe

who did not observe this law that was mainly a moral base, they felt a

physical horror. The one of the draco one she was one of the several that now

have been discovered by the investigators. They can be originated like groups

living near Ecuador and therefore, not needing to practice the trips; but this

is still a work what totally is not verified. The clear point is that they

began to live more far from the sea than on the Earth. During many centur ias

elaborated physical apparatuses of boats and they handled them until these

became their means of life. This gave more security them than the hunting. It

also gave a home them that could continuously be inhabited. It gave the

possibility of constructing and of using those apparatuses them, accumulating

great libraries, seated and thinking or debating problems; shortly, the

freedom to obtain a true civilization, that no emigrant had accepted in the

smallest degree of them limits. On the other hand, this meant a very hard work

and a domination aristocrat. This work stimulated the sexuality; but as

lukewarm children and foods gathered of the sea had done of their birth I

follow independent of the stations. Therefore, the marine nations pronounced

themselves like a module similar to the human in the marriage and the

education of the children: There was still a romantic concept of the love.

Truely no of the cultures could imagine how it could be the other of the same

species. And how will be able one to trust the other?

Chapter 21

Simplez ace ideological those that wage the true and dirty war - it said Go

Rijn -, but now I leave of a side the ideology and we can of a sensible way

and friendly to raise some of the problems of each one of us, he is not asi?

Detail had not explained naturally some of its hypotheses yet. Lannascha

philosophers had a vague idea of the evolution, but they were weak in

astronomy; draco science was almost in the reserve. They go Rijn had been

contented to itself with simple and repeated words, drawing for what had to be

the real and true explanation of the known reproductive differences. One

rubbed the hands and one stayed during a little while in silence. - Thus it

is! I have not showed all this with all dulzura. But I cannot explain it so

that it would need long time. During the coming times, you think about the

others and their defects. You ***reflx mng yourselves of a dirty way of the

others. You count disagreeable histories. (I know some that they can be

adaptable to you), but you know at least that you are of the same race. Anyone

of you could have been a solid member, of the other nation, is not thus?

Perhaps other times come, and you begin to have to interchange some of your

aspects of life. Why you do not experience a little eh? No, I do not see that

you cannot assimilate still this idea, no longer I will say more. It crossed

his arms and it hoped, fatigue, rage plenty and showing the fatigue of the

weeks. During a little while and under a red sun and the wind of the sea, the

great amount of winged soldiers and captains showed in their faces the echo

that had produced in them these words. Delp, in the end said, so under that as

soon as could be heard and that it really did not break imperturbable silence:

- Yes. This has sense. I create it. After another minute inclining its head

towards the rigid stone that at those moments er to the face of T'heonax said:

- My gentleman, this changes the situation. Cr eo. It is not as much as we

waited for, but it is better than what we had. I believe that we can talk:

They will have all Earth and we will have the sea of Achan. Now that I know

that they are not... demons... animals, good, the normal guarantees, oaths and

change of hostages, and other things of the sort, I believe that we would have

to close the treaty of once firmly. Tolk had been whispering in the ear of

Trolwen. Lannach commander agreed. - This is also what I think - said. - We

can persuade to the Council and the Clans, head of the Flok - Tolk whispered.

- Heraldo, if we arrived at a honorable peace, the Council will vote to our

ghosts after we die. The glance of Tolk became towards T'heonax, that remained

immovable between its cortesanos. T'heonax rose. Their wings beat the air,

raising noises as the one of an axe crossing a bone. Suddenly it exclaimed: -

No! I have already heard enough. This farce has qua to finish. Trolwen and the

escort lannascha did not need interpreter. They grasped with force the arms

and they were put in a defensive circle. Their cheeks were tightened

automatically with force. - My gentleman - Delp was elevated. - It holds! -

T'heonax- shouted already you have spoken too much. - Its head moved from a

side to another one -. Captains of the Fleet, already you have heard how Delp

to her Orikan pleads for La Paz with the lowest creatures of the beasts.

Recordadlo. - But my gentleman - an old official rose, with the hands in

protest signal my gentleman admiral, already us have shown it, they are not

beasts... is not more than they are different... - Considering that the

terrestrial one says the truth, which is safe á certain science, that there is

then of all it? - T'heonax watched at only Go Rijn- makes make worse the

things. The beasts cannot help themselves among them. These lannascha are

dirty. And you want to let to them live? You could... you could deal with

them... to enter the cities... you leave your young people are seduced by

them... no. The captains watched an a the others. He was like an audible

murmur. Only Delp seemed to have the anger to speak again. - I humbly ask the

admiral who thinks that we do not have a true election. If we fought with them

until the end he also can be our true end. - Ridiculous, that is ridiculous -

T'heonax- shouted either they has scared to you or has bribed to you. Tolk had

been translating sotto voce. Now tired already, Wace heard the answer of the

commander to his heraldo. - If he returns this attitude, a treaty could not be

carried out. If he did it, he would sacrifice his hostages for us, is not

necessary to speak of ours towards him; to only see us surrounded another one,

time in a war. Let us return before i myself he violates the truce. "and

there", Wace thought "is the end of the world. I will die I lower a stone

rain, and Sandra will die in the Earth glacier. Good... we wanted it ". The

admiral could not let march this embassy. Delp was watching around one by one,

all the faces. - Captains of the Fleet - he shouted -, I request your opinion.

I you imploro who you persuade to my gentleman admiral... so that... - the

next traicionera word that is said by anyone will cost the wings to him -

shouted T'heonax- or is that you put in prohibition my authority? Naturally,

it thought Wace, T'heonax was going to leave with hers; no in this society

would make you deny its absolute one to be able, not even Delp. They could not

be in agreement with him, but the captains would obey. Silence became greater.

Nicholas Van Rijn suddenly broke it with a great shout. The total of the

people that was there, watched. T'heonax jumped backwards. During a little

while it was like the milkshake of a wing. - What was that? - it shouted. -

You are deaf? - it responded Go Rijn- I I said... - it repeated with trémolo.

- What means? - It is a terrestrial term - déjeme said Go Rijn- to see...

good, means that you are... - the rest was the obscenidad greater than it is

possible to be imagined and that Wace had heard in its life. The captains

watched, some took their arms. The guards draco on the upper deck took to the

arcs and the arrows. - Matadle! - T'heonax shouted. - Not - the voice of Goes

Rijn exploded in their ears. The estridente volume of the same one paralyzed

to them -. I am an ambassador, by all the demons! You hurt an ambassador and

the Lodestar will sink you to all in the boiling seas. This stopped to them.

T'heonax did not repeat its order; the guards retired backwards; the officials

remained quiet, removed by these words. - I have something deciros - he

continued Go Rijn duplicating the volume of his voice-I speak for all the

Fleet, and request that you ask yourselves you yourself, why this being is so

stupid. He causes that you stay in a war where both sides you lose; it causes

that you risk your lives, your spouses and your children, and perhaps the

sobreexperience of your own Fleet. Why? Because it is scared. It knows, that

within few years with my arrival here next to draconnay and dealing with me in

my company to truely fantastic prices by low it, the things will begin to

change. You will do better in thinking by you yourself. You prove the freedom.

Little by little its power is come off him. And it is too much, cowardly to

live by itself. And if no, you watch. He must have guards and slaves and to

all you for mandaros, to prove itself to if same that it is not simply small

and stupid and a dirty one, a true Leader. Before he will ruin to all the

Fleet will even die to itself that he will lose the rank that has dreamed up.

T'heonax said affected: - You leave my boat before it forgets that this is an

armistice. - Oh, either I go away, or I go away - it said Go Rijn. It advanced

towards the admiral. Its threat reverberated in all the boat returns and will

wage the war again if you insist. But I only have a small question that to do

before. - one stopped before the real presence and it indicated the nose ago

of the prince with its hairy forefinger. Why you have as much hatred to the

life of lannasca? If as much hatred you have to them, why tests not to clear

it you yourself to it? It returned his back and one inclined. Wace did not see

what it happened. There were guards and captains among them, it heard a noise,

a noise that came from Go Rijn and then there was a murmur of wings before

him. Then it intermingled itself between the bodies, a tail struck to him.

Hardly he felt it, his fist jumped, to only strike to one of them soldiers and

so that he left the expeditious way him and to be able to see. Nicholas Van

Rijn was with both hands in the air while a group of soldiers threatened to

him. - the admiral has catched to me - he shouted I am here like ambassador,

and these pigs have catched to me. What class of relations is these between

several nations, when state heads apresan to the foreign ambassadors? He is

that perhaps a apresa terrestrial president to the diplomats? This is inciv

ilización. T'heonax was thrown backwards, escupiendo and cleaning the blood

that ran by its cheeks. - Salt - it screamed with strangled voice vetoes of

here immediately. They go Rijn agreed: - We go friends - it said we will find

other places where they have better modales. - Freeman... freeman, where

him... - it approached saying Wace. - it does not matter where - it said Go

Rijn of malhumor. Trolwen and Tolk were united to them. The escort lannascha

walked behind to a step. They kept a step hurried through the cover,

separating of the confusion of draconnay under the wall of the Tower. - You

could it have supposed - Wace said. One felt tired, exhausted by all the

things except by the weakness and the rage of the incredible madness of its

head this race is carnivorous. It is that perhaps it has not seen them how act

hastily an a the others when they are gotten angry? It is... a reflection...

must it have known! - Good - it said Go Rijn with more virtuous tone, taking

his hands to calm his insult must not why to me have catched. I am not

responsible by his lack for control or the consequences that are derived from

it. But us they could have killed all. They go Rijn did not worry in

discussing this situation. Delp was united to them in the railing of the

cover. - I feel much that this must finish thus - it said we could have been

friends. Perhaps - it does not finish as soon as seems - it said Go Rijn. -

What means? Tired eyes watched to him hopelessly. - Perhaps you see the things

more quickly, Delp... They go Rijn tended a paternal hand on the back of the

draco. You are a good element. I could serve to me as one like you, like an

agent for some subjects in these territories, in subjects of commissions,

naturally. But so far, he remembers that you are one that all of them respect

and want. If something happened to him to the admiral, there would be panic

and uncertainty, but they you would become towards you, to request advice to

him. If then they built quickly, same you could be the admiral. Perhaps then

we made businesses, does not seem to him? It left become absorbed in thought

Delp watching to him and one became quickly towards the canoe. - Now boys - it

said you row with all your forces. They were almost already in his boat when

Wace saw wings that covered the real boat, then exclaimed: - perhaps Perhaps

the attack... has begun already? On the other hand one was afraid that its

voice had reflected a somewhat stupid aspect. - Good I have been being glad of

not being so near them as for minutes - They go Rijn remained of foot as it

had made the trip throughout, agreed complaciente-but I think that this is not

the war. I only believe that they are revolutionized. Soon Delp will be able

to take control of them and to calm to them. - But... Delp? They go Rijn made

a face. - If the diomedanas proteins are deadly for us - it said ours will not

be very good for them, is not thus? and our old T'heonax friend took a good

whiff from mine. All this will show to them that the wild temperaments do not

lead to anything concrete. Better it will be than you follow my example. When

it is attacked to me, I return the other cheek. It is a good joke, no?

Thursday Landing had few facilities in which to hospital it talks about: A

autodiagnosticante, surgical and therapeutic a few robots, a few medicines

Standard, and a xenovionologístico position that did the times of medical

clinic. But an uninformed one of six weeks did not have very serious

consequences, if he were strong, and although it was had in hand been in

contact, feet, wings and tails, between two very nervous nations on a planet,

no of the two could infect diseases. The treatment progresses quickly with the

aid of the dioceledina, the intravenous glucose and other medicines. To the

sixth diomedano day, Wace had obtained a great amount of fat and now it was in

a very weak period, but that experienced certain slight improvement in its

room. - It smokes, Sir? - the Benegal young person asked. He had taken part in

the exploration from rescue at the moment of the arrival; but he did not have

the news of how the events had been developed; at the moment he was literally

finding out everything. He offered cigarettes with a very respectful air. Wace

stopped, its Albornoz hanging on the knees. One approached. It extended his

hand towards I doubt and to the aim it said: - In all this time without to

have had tobacco, I believe that there am lost the custom. But the thing is

that it would not cost to me much to return to me to put in it. Perhaps it

would be better than it did it? - Good, I believe that no, Sir... - Demons, he

gives it to me. Wace seated in the bed and absorbed the smoke with certain

caution. - I believe that truely I am going to return to acquire all my old

vices that I wished on the Earth, and without a doubt some to acquire others.

- Good, in... you were going to say Sir to me... as this station got to

inquire into which happened to them. - Ah, yes. Thus it was. It was a very

simple thing. A thing of children. I realized in ten minutes, as soon as we

had a little while of rest. To send good dotac more ion of diomedanos with a

written message, naturally, one of the professional interpreters of the Tolk,

to help to ask the way them who had to follow towards the Ocean. Was

constructed to a great life raft simply, a rudimentary raft that she could

take easily. Each one of them took one of the pieces; then they reunited them

in the air and they rested in her when they believed it necessary; and also

they fished from there. Also it rained enough so that they could drink to

small sorbos in the air. It knew that there it rained, since draconnay

remained in the sea during indefinite periods, and after all, also it is a

planet where it rains. Anyway, for reasons that now do not come to the case,

this expedition was including some females lannascha. What means that the

messengers of both nationalities had to leave some prejudices. From now on,

this is going to change its history more than anyone of the impressions that

we, the terrestrial ones, have done by the simple fact that they have flown

through the Ocean in a single day. Thus, then, it is a safe thing that the

beings who have carried out this trip will comprise integral and gives great

importance in the elements of both cultures; but, however, this is a thing

that corresponds to Liga deciding it, and not to me. Wace made a gesture

inexpressive. - Once we saw that they had gone - the only thing finished - who

we could make era put in the bed and hope to us. Later, the first days no

longer we felt much. The appetite had disappeared. The cigarette with a

somewhat strange aspect was smoked. It was being annoying to him. - When I

will be able to see the others? - it asked - already I am enough hard like so

that they bother to me. I need company, condemnation! - Without it serves as

commentary - Benegal- said I believe that Freeman van Rijn said something

similar...: an uproarious one by all the demons of hell! - and it was sent

towards the corridor and it thinks that it will come to visit to him today. -

Then, it vetoes - Wace with certain sarcasm said you are too young to hear

these things. We were done brothers of blood when facing together the death,

brandishing our arms, and many things more, so we will have to hold a meeting

now. It was put at the same time of foot that the boy left the room. At that

moment, They go Rijn appeared in the threshold of the room. They go Rijn had a

different aspect completely; he was not so heavy; one leaned in a cane with

silver head. But its curly hair was shining, and their moustaches and beard

demonstrated he adjustment to that they speak put under; its shirt was white

and impeccable; their legs, however, maintained to him with all the power; it

took to a diamond in each one of his hands and a chain of silver around the

neck, able to anchor a destructive boat. It had in his mouth a pure cigarette

and a hand great sándwich: - So already you are again still on. Good boy! The

only means to be are well not to let themselves squash, as has said the doctor

to me of nerves who has visited to me - extended its forefinger with

indignation is that that doctor has been believed who I am going to hold all

along here with his sinapismos that she wants with the amount of money that

costs to me hourly that I remain here? How many things I will not be able to

do if I arrive at the Earth and my company before the news arrive to them from

which Nicholas van Rijn still remains alive? Indeed I have been discussing

with the engineer of the station in which we were saying to him that first

that it must do is to use the head and at the same time that if my spaceship

is not quick to leave tomorrow these places at noon, will have them to do with

me. So that you will return to the Earth with us, he is not that? Wace did not

answer immediately. Sandra had followed the merchant to the room. She lead a

wheelchair, and had a so white and weak aspect that the heart of Wace was

altered. Its hair was a pale cloud on alm ohadón that it had supported his

head. It gave the aspect of which the tact would be cold. But their eyes had

much vivez, immense, the infinite brilliance of the lukewarm Earth seas; and

she, smiled to him. - My lady - it whispered. - Oh, comes she here also - an

apple of the fruit one said Go Rijn choosing that was next to Wace- we are

going to continue our interrupted trip, perhaps, without so many emotions in

our trip. - Put a lewd glance on her these emotions we will reserve them for

later on the Earth, when we have returned to normality, he is not that? - If

my lady has the force sufficient as to travel - Wace exclaimed. One seated,

his knees could not have to him of foot during long time. - Oh, if - it

murmured nothing else is to follow the diet that has been prescribed to me, to

rest much. - worse Things can do you you exclaimed Go Rijn, finishing the

apple and taking an orange. - it is not a very advisable thing - Wace-

protested we lost many crew members when it cruise of the air fell on waters

of the Oceans. It would not have... - Nor a simple maid to take care of to me?

- Sandra straightened up nervous, but it maintained his genuine amiability

after all the experiences that we have happened I must forget what we did and

what we carried out, and to be so correct and to be so formal with you Eric?

this would be the most idiot thing of the world, when we have scaled together

hills of the Salmembrok, is not thus? and when we have passed so many

difficulties the one next to the other. The pulse of Wace was accelerated.

They go Rijn, throwing to the ground the skin of the orange, said: - With a

little luck, the good Gentleman, we can send much money, if it is His will. I

cannot know each one the men of the Company, as promising young people as you

and that they entertain themselves in small trips of the space like this one.

Now I want to take to the Earth and to look for for you a wage and a work like

which it agrees to him. If she wanted to remember that morning upon the Oborch

mount, Wace thought, by its own hombría, could also remember less pleasant

things and mention them in level words. It was the moment Was still very weak

to rise. A little was shaken, but it got to find the glance of Go Rijn and

said with voice lasts and rage flood: - Indeed, that is the way easiest to

reach the salvation of its own responsibility. Cómprela! Sobórneme with any

thing to forget as Sandra seated without no class gives shelter in a room

would go, until of exhausted DES May and as it lately gave the rest us of food

that it had left... as i myself I worked and I forged in my brain and of total

heart, to be able to leave that place in which we faced to win a battle. No,

it does not interrupt to me. I already know that you also have taken part in

it. You fought during the naval fight because she did not have another

election, did not have no place where to hide. You found a dirty and

disagreeable way to have the obstacles and, disadvantages that appeared to us

in denied elaciones of La Paz. You have talent for this class of things. And

you also gave some suggestions. I admit everything to it. "But, why it served?

All that served to say to me: "Beam this"! Now it is necessary to construct

this. I had to do it without no class of human aid, and with equipment of

stone, another age. I had to design, At that moment any stupid idiot one even

could have said to me: "Llévame to the Moon" only made lack brain to be able

to make it! "Its leadership, was simply transformed to take a walk from a part

to another one, chatting and discussing, politiqueando, eating like

hipopótamo, while Sandra died of hunger in Dawrnach, nevertheless, you were

the one who took all the credit of the subject and now you she thinks myself

that I am going to return to, the Earth, to seat to me behind a good armchair

and to pass to me the rest of my life crossing to me of arms and being calm

while you to char it with loa others. He is not thus? - he is already worth! I

cannot prevent that you hate the society, but can throw to him of my side. You

can take the then part that agrees to him and... Wace saw how Sandra watched

to him, burdens, and that with the eyes requested to him it stopped. - I go

away - he finished. They go Rijn one had swallowed the orange and he returned

to his sándwich during char it of Wace. Now relamía the fingers, inhaled with

force its cigarette, and said with certain kindly air: - If it thinks that I

have taken the way easiest to work, she is that you are very optimistic. I am

offering him a work of importance, not for no reason but because I believe

that you can make it better than ualquiera c on the Earth. Him promissory note

which the work is worth in himself. And I assure to him that you will work for

which I pay to him. Wace made a face. - He continues and if he wants to insult

to me in public if he wishes it - he said Go Rijn- but now I am going to go to

the Earth and to find me who was the one that put the pump on the cruise and I

will take care of myself of him. At the same time I will take care of which my

small Italian me of sándwichs like which I want. Death and dynamite, this

people want to end my bones killing to me of hunger. - a sign Did and it

separated of them in friendlier tone. Sandra approached its wheelchair and put

its hand on the one of Wace. It was a lukewarm, slight tact like a leaf in

October, but it burned. As if the voice came from very far, he heard that he

said to him: - He hoped that this arrived, Eric. It is better than you

include/understand it now. I, that I was born to govern... my complete life

has been a government, he is not asi? I know of which I am speaking. I know

that there are many individuals that are heads of expeditions but that do not

have talent nor to indicate the way that must make follow their people. If.

But this one is not one of them. Without him, you and I would sleep in the

death over the sea of Achan. - But... - you complain to You which he made you

make the things hardest and of than he used your talent, he is not asi? Clear

that he did it. It is not the work of the directors doing the things by

themselves. Its work consists of ordering, persuading, directing, bribing,

even, even that, causing that the others do as much what is due to do, if they

think that it must or that does not have to become, if is possible or no, is

the work of a leader. You say that it went discussing, speaking all along,

making jokes, and other things to make an impression to the native ones. He is

not that? Naturally! Somebody had to do it. We were monsters, foreigners who

we were going to even suplicar to them. Perhaps you or I could begin like

deformed beggars and finish being like kings? "You say that it bribed, who

lay, that killed, that politiqueó, that killed several to lay way. Yes. I do

not say that it was right. But I do not say either that it recreated in it.

Perhaps but you can say that there was another way by which to be able to save

our lives and power to return to the Earth? Or, perhaps, to even cause that

those people could live peacefully like whom they have? - Good, good... - the

man watched at the distant spot through the window. He thought that it would

be a very pleasant thing to be able to live in the interior, about the

battered Earth horizon. - Good, perhaps - each word said he to the aim

silabeando I... I believe that I was too severe. But, anyway, you know that we

also played our role. Without us, he... - I create, that without us, it had

found some other way to return to house - it but without him interrupted, no.

She shook the head. Its face was put red of rage and in such a way that nor

the light of the sun of the outside could disguise it. It thought, in a sudden

reflection: After all, she is a woman, and the women live more for the next

generation who what we can live the men. In addition, she does it of one more

a more special way, since the life of a planet can exert influence in the

children who she has, and she is the purest and significant aristocrat in of

the word. The one that he is the father of the next Duke of You decrease, she

can be old, heavy, without no attractive, and unconscious, incapable one to

see it like any thing if not like a simple episode. Nothing matters that the

woman sees him like a man. Of course, a day I will have much to be thankful to

him to both. - I... - Sandra took a somewhat confused air. Its glance seemed

to want to formulate an unexpected request I believe that it will be better

than it goes to me and it lets to you rest - after a little while of silence

it continued -: it is not as strong as it says. To perhaps it needs me.

The End